Determinants of social inequalities in respiratory health: findings from the EU Child Cohort Network

There is strong evidence that asthma disproportionately impacts children from more deprived backgrounds. Using data from the EU Child Cohort Network, this study will examine the extent of social inequalities in respiratory health in Europe, and how these vary across countries. Using the recently developed dsMediation package, it will also investigate the early-life modifiable risk factors driving social inequalities and how they vary by country. Mediators that will be considered include smoking in pregnancy and the home, maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy, maternal weight gain during pregnancy, birth weight, gestational age, mode of delivery, breastfeeding duration, access to green and blue space, ambient air pollution, child’s BMI, maternal mental health, sibling number and child care attendance.
Findings will help establish where inequalities are greatest and what early-life factors should be targeted by interventions aiming to reduce inequalities in respiratory health.