Prediction and prevention of allergic rhinitis: A birth cohort study of 20 years

Linus B. Grabenhenrich, Thomas Keil, Andreas Reich, Hannah Gough, John Beschorner, Ute Hoffmann, Carl Peter Bauer, Johannes Forster, Antje Schuster, Dirk Schramm, Oliver Nitsche, Fred Zepp, Young Ae Lee, Renate Bergmann, Karl Bergmann, Ulrich Wahn, Susanne Lau

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common chronic diseases, usually starting in the first 2 decades of life. Information on predictors, risk, and protective factors is missing because of a lack of long-term prospective studies. Objective Our aim was to examine early-life environmental and lifestyle determinants for AR up to age 20 years. Methods In 1990, the Multicenter Allergy Study included 1314 newborns in 5 German cities. Children were evaluated at 19 time points. A Cox regression model examined the associations between 41 independent early-life factors and onset of AR (as the primary outcome), including sensitization against aeroallergens and the secondary outcomes of nonallergic rhinitis and AR plus asthma. Results Two hundred ninety subjects had AR within 13,179 person years observed. The risk of AR was higher with a parental history of AR (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.49; 95% CI, 1.93-3.21), urticaria (aHR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.00-1.74), or asthma (aHR, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.95-1.75). Early allergic sensitization (aHR, 4.53; 95% CI, 3.25-6.32), eczema within the first 3 years of life (aHR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.38-2.42), male sex (aHR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.02-1.61), and birthday in summer or autumn (aHR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.00-1.58) were independent predictors of AR up to age 20 years. None of the other socioeconomic, environmental, lifestyle, pregnancy, and birth-related factors were associated with AR. Conclusion Only nonmodifiable factors, particularly early allergic sensitization or eczema and parental AR, predicted AR up to age 20 years. No modifiable aspects of early-life environment or lifestyle were identified as targets for primary prevention.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)932-940.e12
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume136
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2015

Keywords

  • Infant
  • adolescent
  • epidemiologic factors
  • heredity
  • preschool child
  • primary prevention
  • risk factors
  • survival analysis

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