PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Thomas Kovesi MD
AU  - Nicolas L. Gilbert, MSc
AU  - Corinne Stocco, MSc
AU  - Don Fugler, PEng
AU  - Robert E. Dales, MD MSc
AU  - Mireille Guay, MSc
AU  - J. David Miller, PhD
TI  - Indoor air quality and the risk of lower respiratory tract infections in young Canadian Inuit children
AID  - 10.1503/cmaj.061574
DP  - 2007 Jul 17
TA  - Canadian Medical Association Journal
PG  - 155--160
VI  - 177
IP  - 2
4099  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/177/2/155.short
4100  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/177/2/155.full
SO  - CMAJ2007 Jul 17; 177
AB  - Background: Inuit infants have the highest reported rate of hospital admissions because of lower respiratory tract infections in the world. We evaluated the prevalence of reduced ventilation in houses in Nunavut, Canada, and whether this was associated with an increased risk of these infections among young Inuit children. Methods: We measured ventilation in 49 homes of Inuit children less than 5 years of age in Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin) Region, Nunavut. We identified the occurrence of lower respiratory tract infections using a standardized questionnaire. Associations between ventilation measures and lower respiratory tract infection were evaluated using multiple logistic regression models. Results: The mean number of occupants per house was 6.1 people. The mean ventilation rate per person was 5.6 L/s (standard deviation [SD] 3.7); 80% (37/46) of the houses had ventilation rates below the recommended rate of 7.5 L/s per person. The mean indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration of 1358 (SD 531) ppm was higher than the recommended target level of 1000 ppm. Smokers were present in 46 homes (94%). Of the 49 children, 27 (55%) had a reported history of lower respiratory tract infection. Reported respiratory infection was significantly associated with mean CO2 levels (odds ratio [OR] 2.85 per 500-ppm increase in mean indoor CO2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23–6.59) and occupancy (OR 1.81 for each additional occupant, 95% CI 1.14–2.86). Interpretation: Reduced ventilation and crowding may contribute to the observed excess of lower respiratory tract infection among young Inuit children. The benefits of measures to reduce indoor smoking and occupancy rates and to increase ventilation should be studied.