Early-life risk factors for recurrent wheezing in preschool children: A meta-analysis of 15 cohort studies.

Background: Recurrent wheezing (RW) is particularly prevalent in preschool-age children and is strongly associated with the future development of asthma. Objective: Because no meta-analysis of risk factors for RW comprehensively assess is needful. Methods: The research was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive search of English-language studies was performed across four medical literature data bases. Subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses, and evaluations of publication bias were carried out. Multiple cohort studies were included. Stata software and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) were used for data analysis; risk factors associated with positive results were discussed qualitatively. Results: A total of 15 cohort studies that covered 128,065 children were included. Some risk factors, including allergic rhinitis (odds ratio [OR] 4.16 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.06-16.33]), family history of asthma (OR 2.14 [95% CI, 1.24-3.69]), food allergy (OR 2.25 [95% CI, 1.73-2.93]), preterm (OR 1.87 [95% CI, 1.36-2.58]), male (OR 1.47 [95% CI, 1.17-1.84]), cesarean section (OR 1.36 [95% CI, 1.08-1.71]), environmental tobacco smoke (OR 2.15 [95% CI, 1.55-2.99]), got positive results. Conclusion: Risk factors for RW in preschool children were sought. This meta-analysis provides a new perspective theoretical basis for preventing childhood asthma.