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Rural residence, farming environment, and allergic diseases in Argentinean adolescents
Author(s) -
Han YuehYing,
Badellino Hèctor A.,
Forno Erick,
Celedón Juan C.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.23511
Subject(s) - wheeze , medicine , residence , odds ratio , asthma , odds , environmental health , confidence interval , rural area , logistic regression , demography , allergy , cross sectional study , pediatrics , immunology , pathology , sociology
Summary Rationale Little is known about residence in a rural or farming environment and allergic diseases in Latin America. Methods Cross‐sectional study of rural residence and current wheeze, current asthma and current symptoms of allergic rhino‐conjunctivitis in 1,804 adolescents (ages 13–14 years) attending 31 schools in urban and rural areas of San Francisco (Córdoba, Argentina). Rural residence was classified as never, previous, and current. Duration of rural residence was categorized as 0, >0 but ≤5 years, and >5 years. Current wheeze, current asthma, and current allergic rhino‐conjunctivitis were defined on the basis of responses to an extensively validated questionnaire from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Logistic regression was used for the multivariable analysis of rural residence and the outcomes of interest. Results After adjustment for current smoking and other covariates, current rural residence (odds ratio [OR] = 0.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.03–0.81) and rural residence for >5 years (OR = 0.32, 95%CI = 0.12–0.84) were significantly associated with reduced odds of current wheeze. In a multivariable analysis, current residence in a rural area (OR = 0.52, 95%CI = 0.32–0.86) and rural residence for >5 years (OR = 0.44, 95%CI = 0.26–0.73) were significantly associated with reduced odds of allergic rhino‐conjunctivitis. This association was no longer significant after additional adjustment for current residence in a dairy farm, which was significantly associated with reduced odds of allergic rhino‐conjunctivitis. Similarly, current regular contact with farm animals was significantly associated with reduced odds of allergic rhino‐conjunctivitis. Conclusions Among Argentinean adolescents, current rural residence and rural residence for >5 years were associated with reduced odds of current wheeze and allergic rhino‐conjunctivitis. These potential protective effects may be explained by a dairy farm environment, including regular contact with farm animals. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:21–28. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.