Hospital admissions of preschool children for asthma are reduced after a ban on smoking in vehicles
Mackay DF, Turner SW, Semple SE, et al. Associations between smoke-free vehicle legislation and childhood admissions to hospital for asthma in Scotland: an interrupted time-series analysis of whole-population data. Lancet Public Health. 2021 Jul 15; S2468-2667(21)00129-8. Online ahead of print.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(21)00129-8/fulltext
“Although legislation banning smoking in vehicles did not affect hospital admissions for severe asthma among children overall or in the older age group, this legislation was associated with a reduction in severe asthma exacerbations requiring hospital admission among preschool children, over and above the underlying trend and previous interventions designed to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke. Similar legislation prohibiting smoking in vehicles that contain children should be adopted in other countries.”
Comment: Smoking in vehicles is known to affect hospital admissions for asthma exacerbations among preschool children and to produce other adverse health effects among adult populations with heart and respiratory conditions. The prohibition of smoking in vehicles should be adopted to protect population health. Stephen Hamann
