A childhood farm environment protects from allergic sensitization until middle age but not from new-onset sensitization in adulthood : a 15 year longitudinal study
Haarala, Anna Karoliina; Sinikumpu, Suvi-Päivikki; Vaaramo, Eeva; Jokelainen, Jari; Timonen, Markku; Auvinen, Juha; Pekkanen, Juha; Huilaja, Laura (2021-07-02)
Haarala, A.K.; Sinikumpu, S.-P.; Vaaramo, E.; Jokelainen, J.; Timonen, M.; Auvinen, J.; Pekkanen, J.; Huilaja, L. A Childhood Farm Environment Protects from Allergic Sensitization until Middle Age but Not from New-Onset Sensitization in Adulthood: A 15 Year Longitudinal Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 7078. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18137078
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2021102852800
Tiivistelmä
Abstract
Data are insufficient on the protective effect of a farm environment in childhood regarding sensitization in middle age and new-onset sensitization in adulthood. A skin prick test (SPT) and questionnaire data from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study (NFBC66) were used to investigate sensitization at age 46 years related to childhood living environment. A subpopulation of 3409 participants was analyzed to study factors related to new-onset sensitization between ages of 31 and 46 years. Data on complete SPTs were available for 5373 cohort members at age 46. Professional farming by parents (odds ratio (OR) 0.54; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43–0.68) and keeping of farm animals (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.43–0.66) in infancy were associated with a lower risk of sensitization at age 46. Sensitization (OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.47–0.72) and polysensitization (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.32–0.57) were less common in those who lived in a rural area in infancy compared to a city area. The childhood living environment had no effect on new-onset sensitization between ages 31 and 46. We conclude that living on a farm or in a rural environment in childhood had a protective effect on sensitization even in middle age, but these factors did not protect from new-onset sensitization in adults.
Kokoelmat
- Avoin saatavuus [32202]