Exposure to second-hand smoke among patients with asthma: a cross-sectional study

Background: The prevalence of asthma varies among different regions based on the presence of different risk factors. Second-hand smoking is one of the factors that leads to an increased prevalence, exacerbation, and poor control of asthma. Thereby, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of asthma among children and the impact of second-hand smoking among asthma patients. Methodology: This cross-sectional study included parents of children in Saudi Arabia. It was conducted during the period from July 2020 to September 2020 using an online questionnaire. Results: This study included 300 participants; of which 33.3% children were suffering from asthma. There was no significant difference between asthmatic and non-asthmatic participants regarding being exposed to daily smokers, occasional smokers, or non-smokers (p = 0.14). There was no significant difference between asthmatic and non-asthmatic patients regarding being exposed to daily smokers, occasional smokers, or nonsmoker parents (p = 0.16). There was no significant difference between asthmatic and non-asthmatic children regarding being exposed to daily smokers, occasional smokers, or non-smokers inside the car (p = 0.4). Conclusion: Second-hand smoking showed no impact on the prevalence and exacerbation of asthma.