Environmental risk factors for allergy and socioeconomic status in a birth cohort (BAMSE)

Abstract

Associations between parental educational level and possible risk factors for atopic disease during the first months of life were explored in a cohort of 4089 neonate children born 1994-96 in Stockholm, Sweden. Reports concerning a number of life style factors during pregnancy and after the baby was born were obtained by questionnaire. There was a strong negative association between duration of education and maternal smoking during pregnancy, parental smoking after the baby was born and keeping of cat and dog (p-trend < 0.001), respectively. For example, smoking during pregnancy was reported by 6.7% (95% CI 5.5-7.9) of mothers with college or university degree and by 22.2% (95% CI 20.1-24.5) of those with the shortest education. Indicators of dampness and poor ventilation were also more common in homes of those with the shortest education. The results show that the educational level has an influence on risk factors for development of atopic disease in childhood and indicates a need of deeper understanding of life style in different socioeconomic groups. The data also indicate that various possible confounding factors need to be thoroughly investigated when analysing studies of risk factors for allergic disease in childhood.

Socio-economic determinants of asthma and allergic diseases among students of lower secondary schools in Bytom

“…Many authors also indicate the regularity that the lifestyle and behavior of parents with a worse economic situation does not serve the health of their children, e.g. smoking during pregnancy and in the presence of children, abandoning breastfeeding [16,17,19,24,25]. The results of our study are consistent with the observations of a cohort study by the Dutch Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy (PIAMA) [25].…”

Risk factors and characteristics of respiratory and allergic phenotypes in early childhood

“…14 Participation of subjects of higher economic status is commonly observed in many studies and could cause classification bias because socioeconomic status is related to many lifestyle and household environment characteristics. 33 In our study infants from the lower socioeconomic class were more likely to be exposed to parental smoking, furred pets, cockroaches, and daily use of cleaning sprays, whereas children from the higher socioeconomic class were breast-fed longer. Higher rates of participation were expected from parents who had personal history of asthma, allergic rhinitis, or eczema because of increased awareness of the disease.…”

Traffic-related air pollution and development of allergic sensitization in children during the first 8 years of life

“…The study design, enrollment, criteria for inclusion, and procedures for data collection have been described elsewhere. 22 In brief, the study population comprised 75% of all eligible children born in predefined areas of 4 municipalities representing urban and suburban environments. Data on parental Abbreviations used BAMSE: Children, Allergy, Milieu, Stockholm, Epidemiological Survey NO x : Nitrogen oxides OR: Odds ratio PM 10 : Particles with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 mm age, conditions in the perinatal period, lifestyle, allergies within the family, and detailed housing characteristics were collected by using a postal questionnaire sent to the parents at recruitment (median child's age, 2 months).…”