Secondhand smoke increases hospital readmission for asthmatic kids

Exposure to secondhand smoke increases hospital admissions in children with asthma.

According to a new study, children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are likely to be readmitted to the hospital within a year of being first admitted for asthma symptoms. The research was published in the journal Pediatrics and was lead by doctors from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Ohio and the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Children’s Hospital in Pennsylvania.

The researchers studied over 600 children who were between the ages of one and 16 and were admitted to the hospital for asthma or breathing issues between August 2010 and October 2011. The doctors were able to measure the cotinine – a substance produced by the body when it is breaking down nicotine – in the blood and saliva of the children to asses their tobacco exposure. The primary caregivers of each child were also questioned about their regular smoking habits.

The children were then followed for a full year to see if they were readmitted to the hospital within that time frame. Of the children in the study, 17 percent were readmitted to the hospital within 12 months. The researchers found that – as revealed by the cotinine levels found in the children – the readmission rate was twice as high for those who were exposed to secondhand smoke compared to those who were not. 76 percent of those who were in the study were assisted by Medicaid for their insurance and the doctors believe that this study will create a financial incentive for insurance companies to encourage customers who smoke to quit.

If somebody in your family is a smoker, it is important to do everything you can to keep the air in your home clean – especially if you have children. US Air Purifiers’ line of products will have the best air purifier for smoke for your house.