Table 2

Characteristics of the cohorts defined by respiratory infection during the first year of life

Respiratory infection in first year
n=42 334
(16.7%)
No respiratory infection
in first year
n=211 594
(83.3%)
Total
n=253 928
(100%)
Prescribed asthma medication*7485 (17.7)26 591 (12.6)34 076 (13.4)
Hospital asthma diagnosis*420 (1.0)761 (0.4)1181 (0.5)
No asthma*34 749 (82.1)184 775 (87.3)219 524 (86.5)
Gestational age (weeks)
 ≤27252 (0.6)1221 (0.6)1473 (0.6)
 28–31723 (1.7)3578 (1.7)4301 (1.7)
 32–363906 (9.2)19 528 (9.2)23 434 (9.2)
 37–4134 839 (82.3)174 194 (82.3)209 033 (82.3)
 >412507 (5.9)12 535 (5.9)15 042 (5.9)
 Uncertain107 (0.3)538 (0.3)645 (0.3)
Birth weight (g)
 <1000241 (0.6)1292 (0.6)1533 (0.6)
 >1000–1500580 (1.4)2714 (1.3)3294 (1.3)
 >1500–2000953 (2.3)4300 (2.0)5253 (2.1)
 >2000–27504099 (9.7)18 815 (8.9)22 914 (9.0)
 >2750–32509727 (23.0)47 617 (22.5)57 344 (22.6)
 >3250–400020 178 (47.7)104 693 (49.5)124 871 (49.2)
 >40006426 (15.2)31 524 (14.9)37 950 (14.9)
 Not recorded130 (0.3)639 (0.3)769 (0.3)
Maternal asthma
 Current721 (1.7)2754 (1.3)3475 (1.4)
 Previous210 (0.5)749 (0.4)959 (0.4)
 None41 403 (97.8)208 091 (98.3)249 494 (98.3)
Maternal age at delivery
 13–18755 (1.8)2917 (1.4)3672 (1.5)
 19–2514 230 (33.6)66 604 (31.5)80 834 (31.8)
 26–3015 312 (36.2)76 752 (36.3)92 064 (36.3)
 31–358911 (21.0)46 336 (21.9)55 247 (21.8)
 36–402757 (6.5)16 673 (7.9)19 430 (7.7)
 41–54369 (0.9)2312 (1.1)2681 (1.1)
Maternal smoking
 Non-smoker23 871 (56.4)134 802 (63.7)158 673 (62.5)
 Smoker12 429 (29.4)46 817 (22.1)59 246 (23.3)
 Not recorded6034 (14.3)29 975 (14.2)36 009 (14.2)
Child's sex
 Female17 619 (41.6)103 007 (48.7)120 626 (47.5)
 Male24 715 (58.4)108 587 (51.3)133 302 (52.5)
Parity
 112 714 (30.0)87 275 (41.2)99 989 (39.4)
 217 247 (40.7)74 534 (35.2)91 781 (36.1)
 38270 (19.5)34 880 (16.5)43 150 (17.0)
 4 or more4103 (9.7)14 905 (7.0)19 008 (7.5)
Chronic lung disease
 No42 272 (99.9)211 416 (99.9)253 688 (99.9)
 Yes62 (0.1)178 (0.1)240 (0.1)
  • *These categories are not mutually exclusive.