ASSESSMENT OF GENETIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTORS IN CHILDHOOD ASTHMA SEVERITY

Abstract

Childhood asthma is a heterogeneous chronic respiratory disorder characterized by substantial variability in disease severity and clinical outcomes. This study aimed to systematically assess the combined influence of genetic, environmental, and behavioral risk factors on asthma severity in pediatric populations using an experimental mixed-methods framework. Quantitative analyses incorporated polygenic risk scores, environmental exposure indices, and behavioral modulation parameters into multivariate, hierarchical, and Bayesian statistical models, while qualitative behavioral assessments were transformed into integrative severity metrics. The results revealed that genetic susceptibility significantly contributes to baseline asthma severity; however, genetic effects alone accounted for a limited proportion of phenotypic variability. Environmental exposures, particularly cumulative air pollutant burden and indoor risk factors, demonstrated strong independent associations with severity and acted synergistically with genetic risk. Behavioral factors, including adherence-related and exposure-modifying behaviors, emerged as critical moderators that significantly altered severity trajectories. Interaction modeling identified robust gene–environment and behavior–environment effects, highlighting the non-linear and dynamic nature of asthma pathophysiology. Visualization of longitudinal trends further confirmed substantial heterogeneity in disease progression across individuals. Overall, the findings underscore that childhood asthma severity arises from complex systems-level interactions rather than isolated determinants. This integrative approach supports the advancement of precision medicine strategies that incorporate genetic profiling, exposome assessment, and behavioral evaluation to improve risk stratification, guide targeted interventions, and enhance long-term outcomes in pediatric asthma management.