Table 4 Distribution of health indicators and living conditions of 6-year-old children in East and West Germany stratified by parental educational level.
|  | Mean ± standard deviationa/Prevalence [%]b | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | East Germany | Â | West Germany | Â | ||
| Â | Parental education | Â | Parental education | Â | ||
| Â | Low c | High c | Â | Low c | High d | Â |
Health indicators | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Airway resistance [10-1•kPa•s/l] | 6.71 ± 1.60 | 6.61 ± 1.62 | - | 6.41 ± 1.53 | 6.14 ± 1.45 | * |
Total lung capacity [% predicted] | 103 ± 11 | 104 ± 10 | - | 105 ± 11 | 105 ± 10 | - |
Birth weight [10•g] | 330 ± 53 | 336 ± 53 | * | 334 ± 60 | 342 ± 57 | * |
Body height [cm] | 119.7 ± 5.6 | 120.6 ± 5.4 | * | 120.2 ± 5.7 | 120.6 ± 5.4 | * |
Overweight, BMI > 19 kg/m2 | 6.6 | 4.6 | * | 8.9 | 4.9 | * |
Bronchitis, ever diagnosed | 43.7 | 52.8 | * | 41.9 | 52.3 | * |
More than 4 colds in last 12 months | 12.0 | 14.3 | * | 13.9 | 16.1 | * |
Frequent cough | 6.6 | 6.3 | - | 8.0 | 7.4 | * |
Sneeze attacks in the last 12 months | 4.5 | 5.4 | * | 5.8 | 5.9 | - |
Allergy, ever diagnosed | 7.8 | 10.9 | * | 12.2 | 17.4 | - |
Eczema, ever diagnosed | 12.9 | 19.1 | * | 11.2 | 17.4 | * |
Atopic eczema, day of investigation | 11.1 | 12.3 | - | 7.0 | 9.3 | - |
Specific IgE grass pollen positive | 9.7 | 12.8 | * | 10.1 | 11.7 | - |
Specific IgE house dust mite positive | 8.5 | 11.1 | * | 12.0 | 14.0 | - |
Living conditions | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Single child | 38.8 | 37.6 | - | 28.4 | 24.9 | Â |
Small living space | 51.7 | 40.8 | * | 35.4 | 17.1 | * |
Unfavourable indoor air | 52.3 | 49.2 | * | 16.3 | 16.1 | - |
Damp housing condition | 12.7 | 8.2 | * | 6.4 | 3.3 | Â |
Maternal smoking during pregnancy | 13.9 | 4.2 | * | 36.3 | 14.5 | * |
Living near a busy road | 62.8 | 56.7 | * | 55.0 | 43.2 | * |