Prevalence and risk factors of asthma in First Nations children living on reserves in Canada.

Objectives: To explore the prevalence and determine the risk factors of asthma in First Nations children aged 0 to 11 years living on reserves in Canada.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we considered the data collected as part of the First Nations Regional Health Survey involving 6,657 children living in 238 First Nations communities in the 10 Canadian provinces, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

Results: The overall prevalence of asthma that has lasted or is expected to last at least six months (ever-asthma) among children living on reserves was 14.

Association between vitamin D and respiratory outcomes in Canadian adolescents and adults.

Background: Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide, affecting more than 200 million people. Vitamin D deficiency has been reported among individuals with asthma and might play a role in asthma exacerbations. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the association of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and current asthma, ever asthma, and lung function.