Trends in the prevalence of childhood asthma and allergy in Western part of Georgia.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24013149
Center for Allergy and Immunology Research, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Abstract
Internatinal time trend analyses, using the ISAAC (Phase Three) protocol, have yielded variable results and observed a rise in prevalence especially in areas where allergic diseases were previously less common.
In 2003 and 2012, we performed cross-sectional studies in Kutaisi (western part of Georgia) schoolchildren aged 6-7 and 13-14 yr., using the validated ISAAC methodology, aiming to provide the prevalence trends of asthma and allergy in this population.
Both cross-sectional studies were carried out in the same city, same season and used identical methodologies.
In 2003, number of participants in 6-7 and 13-14 yrs old groups was 2666 and 2650 and in 2012 – 3039 and 2339 correspondently.
Significant alteration in prevalence of asthma related symptoms was obtained in both age groups.
The symptom of severe asthma had increased only in 13-14 year old adolescents and was not change in 6-7 year old group.
There were significant increases (all to p < 0.001) in the symptoms of current sneezing (16.4% vs 8.7% and 28.4% vs 15.3% in 6-7 yr group and 13-14 yr group correspondently) and rhinoconjunctivitis (5.2% vs 2.9% and 9.6% vs 4.5% yr group and 13-14 yr group correspondently).
Symptoms of current eczema (affecting flexural dermatitis) were increased in both age groups.
The prevalence of asthma and allergies markedly increase among both age groups of schoolchildren in the western part of Georgia. The exact reasons for such trends remain to be explored.
———————
Further Readings of Interest
Prevalence and risk factors of atopic diseases in German children and adolescents.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22882467
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Atopic diseases became an important health problem in affluent Western societies.
METHODS:
To study the prevalence and factors associated with the risk of atopic diseases in Germany, data from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) were analysed (n = 17,450).
Standardized, computer-assisted personal interviews with parents and parent-administered questionnaires provided physician diagnoses of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis and asthma as well as data on demographic characteristics, migration background, birth order, age at the beginning of nursery, atopic diseases of parents, parents’ smoking status, parents’ occupation, breastfeeding and living environment.
RESULTS:
The life-time prevalence of
atopic dermatitis was 13.2% (95% confidence limit: 12.5-13.9%),
10.7% (10.1-11.3%) for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and
4.7% (4.3-5.1%) for asthma.
At least one atopic disease in parents was the strongest factor associated with atopic diseases in the offspring, with a prevalence ratio of up to 2.6.
High and middle socio-economic status (prevalence ratio, 95% confidence limit: 1.28, 1.12-1.46; 1.15, 1.01-1.32) were associated with the risk of atopic dermatitis, whereas a two-sided background of migration reduced the risk (0.76, 0.65-0.88).
Factors that reduced the risk of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis were parents working as self-employed farmers (0.48, 0.30-0.76) and older siblings (0.80, 0.71-0.89), whereas the beginning of nursery school at older age was associated with an increased risk in children who were cared for outside the family before school age (1.05, 1.00-1.10).
Living in mould-infested rooms (1.64, 1.23-2.19), an urban living environment (1.20, 1.02-1.42) and a smoking mother and/or father (1.20, 1.02-1.40) were associated with the risk of asthma.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our results are in line with the so-called ‘hygiene hypothesis’, which emphasizes the role of environmental factors in addition to a genetic predisposition in the development of atopic diseases. Research on factors associated with atopic diseases can facilitate decisions on preventive strategies. Further studies are needed to explore trends in prevalence and risk factors for atopic diseases.
asdresearchinitiative 