Effect of Community-Based Interventions for Childhood Asthma: A Meta-Analysis

Yanyan  Li; Ming  Ren; Yajuan  Wang; Xiaomi  Qi; Hui  Wang; Na  Liang; Tianyang  Ren; Lihong  Zhang

doi:10.18502/ijph.v55i1.20977

Yanyan Li Department of Pediatrics, Baoding First Central Hospital, Hebei, 071000, China
Ming Ren Department of Pediatrics, Baoding First Central Hospital, Hebei, 071000, China
Yajuan Wang Department of Pediatrics, Baoding First Central Hospital, Hebei, 071000, China
Xiaomi Qi Department of Pediatrics, Baoding First Central Hospital, Hebei, 071000, China
Hui Wang Department of Pediatrics, Baoding First Central Hospital, Hebei, 071000, China
Na Liang Department of Pediatrics, Baoding First Central Hospital, Hebei, 071000, China
Tianyang Ren Department of English, China Foreign Affairs University, Beijing, 100091, China
Lihong Zhang Department of Pediatrics, Baoding First Central Hospital, Hebei, 071000, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v55i1.20977

Keywords: Asthma; Asthma-connected emergency; Hospitalizations

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to appraise and compare the influence of community‑based interventions (C-BIs) on childhood asthma.

Methods: We reviewed meta-analysis data and used a dichotomous or continuous model with random or fixed effects to get odds ratios (OR) and mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). This review included 13 papers and 8824 children with asthma. The range of studies years were between 2006 and 2024 from Google Scholar, Embase, Cochrane library, Pubmed, and OVID databases.

Results: Children with C-BI had significantly lower asthma-connected emergency department visits (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.22-0.39, P<0.001), hospitalizations (OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.15-0.40, P<0.001), asthma symptoms days (MD, -2.56; 95% CI, -2.84- -2.28, P<0.001), nighttime asthma symptoms (MD, -2.14; 95% CI, -2.94- -1.34, P<0.001), and bronchodilator uses (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.16-0.51, P<0.001), and higher asthma action plan use (OR, 8.87; 95% CI, 3.85-20.45, P<0.001) compared to children without C-BI in asthma.

Conclusion: Children with C-BI had significantly lower asthma-connected emergency department visits, hospitalizations, asthma symptoms days, nighttime asthma symptoms, bronchodilator use, and higher asthma action plan use compared to children without C-BI in asthma. Nevertheless, due to the limited number of research studies involved in the comparisons, their values warrant careful consideration.