Children with Asthma Are Less Likely to Walk to School

Abstract

Determine if children with asthma are more/less likely to walk to school, and if the living distance modifies this association. Five thousand six hundred nineteen children aged 5–9 completed the Toronto Child Health Evaluation Questionnaire. The mode of transportation was defined as walking, driven by car, or school bus. Children were categorized by the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood methodology as doctor-diagnosed current or lifetime asthma, symptomatic controls (asthma symptoms without diagnosis), or asymptomatic controls. The living distance was the shortest driving distance between home and school. Adjusted models revealed children with current asthma [odds ratio (OR) 1.29; 95% CI 1.01–1.65], lifetime asthma (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.01–1.56), and symptomatic controls (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.14–1.59) were more likely to be driven by car versus asymptomatic controls. Among children who lived within walking distance of the school (≤1.5 km), symptomatic controls were more likely to be driven by car (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.09–1.56) or school bus (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.01–2.17); however, children with current (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.00–2.92), or lifetime asthma (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.06–2.76) were more likely to be driven only by school bus. Children with asthma or respiratory symptoms are less likely to walk and more likely to be driven to school. Among children who are ineligible for school bus programs based on the living distance from school, children with asthma are still more likely to be bussed.