Influence of socio-economic and demographic factors in determining breathing patterns: a pilot study

Abstract

Summary: Breathing represents one of the vital functions of the organism, and its unbalance causes some series of alterations in several organs and systems. Aim: Verify the influence of socio-economic and demographic factors in determining breathing patterns. Study design: cross-sectional. Materials and Methods: there were 143 students in the sample, with ages ranging from 9 and 10 years, from two schools, public and private, in the city of Recife, Pernambuco. Breathing patterns were established through two tests: Glatzel Plate (Steam) and water time in the mouth. Socio-economic factors were evaluated through questionnaires with nine questions each. Statistics were carried out by means of the Chi-Squared test or Fisher's Exact test and the significance level used was of 5%. Results: Oral breathing prevalence was of 55.2%, higher among females (57.7%) and in public schools (67.2%). Lack of medical care (62%), less use of medications (56.6%), parents with educational levels lower than high school, divorced parents (66%), students that do not live with their parents (68.7%) and homes with only one room (72%), in all of those situations, oral breathing signs were more prevalent. Only school type had significant association with the breathing pattern. Conclusion: High levels of oral breathing without differences concerning gender and age. With the exception of school type, there was no association between breathing pattern and socio-economic factors. Keywords: breathing problems, socio-economic factor, oral breathing