Children Captured in the Swedish National Airway Register Have Increased Familial Atopy, More Severe Disease and Higher Socioeconomic Status

ABSTRACT Aim We estimated the coverage of children recorded in the Swedish National Airway Register (SNAR) and identified predictors of registration among those with asthma and moderate to severe asthma. Methods This study comprised 85 656 children aged 5–17 years with asthma, born 2000–2019 and living in Stockholm. The children were identified through diagnoses and dispensed medication in national and regional health registers. Registration in the SNAR was assessed. Logistic regression compared characteristics of registered and unregistered children, with associations presented as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Overall, 33 815 (39.5%) of children with asthma were registered in the SNAR. Registration was more common among children with allergic rhinitis (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.77–1.88), parental asthma and allergic rhinitis (maternal OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.43–1.51), higher parental income and education (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.05–1.12), and moderate to severe asthma (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.32–1.42). Findings were similar in the moderate to severe asthma sub‐cohort. Conclusion Nearly 40% of children with asthma in Stockholm were registered in the SNAR, and they were more likely to have familial atopy, higher socioeconomic status, and more severe disease. The SNAR is being developed to increase coverage, support standardized registration, and improve care.