A clear urban–rural gradient of allergic rhinitis in a population-based study in Northern Europe

European Clinical Respiratory Journal

Ane Johannessen¹  Cecilie Svanes¹  Ernst Omenaas¹  Christer Janson²  Mathias Holm³  Stine Holmegaard Christensen⁴  Torben Sigsgaard⁴  Signe Timm⁴  Vivi Schlünssen⁴  Bertil Forsberg⁵  Bryndis Benediktsdóttir⁶  Rain Jogi⁷ 

[1] Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway;Department of Medical Sciences: Respiratory, Allergy and Sleep Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden;Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden;Department of Public Health, Section for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark;Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden;Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland;Lung Clinic, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia;

关键词: allergic rhinitis;    microbial diversity;    microbial exposure;    nasal symptoms;    pets;    place of upbringing;   

DOI  :  10.3402/ecrj.v3.33463

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Background: The protective effect of farm upbringing on allergic rhinitis is well known, but how upbringing in other environments influences the development of allergic rhinitis is scarcely investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between place of upbringing and pet keeping in childhood and allergic rhinitis and nasal symptoms in adulthood. Methods: The population-based Respiratory Health in Northern Europe study includes subjects from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Estonia born in 1945–1973. This paper analyses 13,376 participants of the third study wave. Six categories of place of upbringing were defined: farm with livestock, farm without livestock, village in rural area, small town, city suburb, and inner city. Pets in the home at birth and during childhood were recorded. Data were analysed using adjusted logistic regression models. Results: Livestock farm upbringing predicted less adult allergic rhinitis [odds ratio (OR) 0.68, 0.54–0.85] and nasal symptoms (OR 0.82, 0.68–0.99) than city upbringing, and an urban–rural gradient with decreasing risk per level of urbanisation was observed (OR 0.92, 0.88–0.94). Pets in the home at birth (OR 0.78, 0.68–0.88) and during childhood (OR 0.83, 0.74–0.93) were associated with less subsequent allergic rhinitis. Pet keeping did not explain the protective effect of place of upbringing. Conclusion: Risk of allergic rhinitis and nasal symptoms in adulthood was inversely associated with the level of urbanisation during upbringing. Pets at birth decreased the risk further, but did not explain the urban–rural gradient. Persistent beneficial effects of microbial diversity in early life might be an explanation for the findings.

【 授权许可】

Unknown