A European study led by the University of Copenhagen indicates that children from lower-income homes face a greater risk of developing asthma compared to those from higher-income families. The research, conducted across Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, the United Kingdom, and France, highlights a persistent disparity in childhood asthma rates tied to socioeconomic status.

On average, the study found that children whose mothers had a short or medium education level had a 17% higher risk of developing asthma than children whose mothers had a higher level of education.

The inequality varied across the studied countries. France exhibited the most significant disparity, with a 61% higher risk of asthma in children from low-income families. Denmark, in contrast, showed the lowest degree of inequality, with a 7% increased risk.

Researchers suggest several factors contributing to this inequality, including smoking during pregnancy, breastfeeding duration, and birth complications such as premature birth, low birth weight, and cesarean sections. The study emphasizes that smoking rates and breastfeeding practices are often socially determined.

Angela Pinot de Moira, a visiting researcher at the Department of Public Health at KU and an author of the study, noted that the observed inequality could not be fully explained by these factors alone.

Pinot de Moira suggests that other risk factors, such as air pollution and indoor climate, may play a more significant role in countries with greater socioeconomic inequality.

Asthma is the most prevalent chronic disease among children in Denmark, affecting approximately 10% of school-aged children. The study analyzed data from over 100,000 mother-child pairs, with around 30,000 originating from Denmark.

The research underscores that even in countries with strong social safety nets, socioeconomic disparities continue to impact childhood health outcomes.