Cotinine Levels Correlate with Asthma Readmissions in Children

Exposure to tobacco smoke has been linked to poor asthma control. To help identify children at risk for secondhand tobacco smoke exposure, researchers examined reported exposure, serum and saliva levels of cotinine (a metabolite of nicotine), and readmission in 619 children (age range, 1–16 years; 57% black) admitted to a large urban children's hospital for asthma.

Interestingly, a history of tobacco exposure as reported by the primary caregiver did not correlate with children's cotinine levels. Overall, 35% of caregivers reported tobacco exposure, yet cotinine was detected in 56% of serum samples and 80% of saliva samples. Among caregivers who reported no exposure, serum and saliva cotinine levels were detected in 39% and 70% of children, r…