RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Farming environment and allergen-specific sensitization at age 31 - Results from a prospective birth cohort study in Finland
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P901
VO 42
IS Suppl 57
A1 Jussi Lampi
A1 Leea Keski-Nisula
A1 Anna-Liisa Hartikainen
A1 Alex da Silva Couto Alves
A1 Marjo-Riitta Järvelin
A1 Juha Pekkanen
YR 2013
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P901.abstract
AB Background: Farm environment, especially contact with farm animals in early childhood may prevent from allergic sensitization. However, prospective associations with specific sensitization against common allergens in adulthood are less clear.Objective: To investigate the prospective associations of a farming environment, especially farm animal contact, during infancy, with allergic-specific sensitization at age 31.Methods: In a prospective birth cohort study, 5509 subjects born in northern Finland in 1966 were followed up at the age of 31. Prenatal exposure to the farming environment was documented before or at birth. At age 31, information on health status and childhood exposure to pets was collected by a questionnaire and skin prick tests (SPT) against birch, timothy, cat and house dust mite (HDM) were performed.Results: To be born in a farming family and especially contact with farm animals were associated with decreased risk of sensitization against birch, timothy and cat during adulthood. Sensitization against birch, timothy and cat were all dose-dependently associated with number of animal species present during childhood. Sensitization against HDM was not associated with factors related to farm environment. Inverse association between total number of positive SPT and farming environment during early childhood was also detected.Conclusions: Farming environment, especially farm animals during infancy, prevents from allergic sensitization but not against all allergens.