Exploring Household-level Risk Factors for Self-reported Prevalence of Allergic Diseases Among Low-income Households in Seoul, Korea

Abstract

PurposeIndoor risk factors for allergic diseases in low-income households in Korea have been characterized only partially. We evaluated the prevalences of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis in Seoul, Korea, to identify key housing and behavioral risk factors of low-income households.MethodsStatistical analysis of the prevalence of these diseases and various risk factors was conducted using data from a 2010 Ministry of Environment household survey. Logistic regression models were generated using data from 511 low-income household apartments in districts of Seoul.ResultsIn general, housing factors such as renovation history (P<0.1) and crowding status (P<0.01) were associated with allergic rhinitis, whereas behavioral factors such as frequency of indoor ventilation (P<0.05) and cleaning (P<0.1) were inversely correlated with atopic dermatitis. Indoor smoking was a major trigger of asthma and atopic dermatitis in low-income households (P<0.05). The presence of mold and water leakage in houses were the most important risk factors for all three diseases (P<0.05).ConclusionsVarious risk factors play a role in triggering allergic diseases among low-income households in Seoul, and health or environmental programs mitigating allergic diseases should be tailored to address appropriate housing or behavioral factors in target populations.

Characteristics of domestic predictors of persistent bronchial asthma in adolescents and allergic rhinitis in children with a distal occlusion

“…Silvia de Magalhaes Simoes and co-authors showed that 143 (36 %) children of 397 children with bronchial asthma had intermittent course; 160 (40 %) -mild persistent course; 51 (12.8 %) -persistent moderate course and 43 (10.8%) -persistent severe course of the disease [17]. In the same way as in our study the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in children living in Korea or in the Southern Mediterranean region was associated with their place of residence and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was the dominant in allergen-induced bronchial asthma [18,19]. The incidence of bronchial asthma and hypersensitivity to domestic allergens was recorded at 12 % vs. 3 % and 56 % vs. 38 % in Lima as compared with Tumbes, and the risk factor for allergic rhinitis development was also the sensitization to domestic allergens [20].…”

Indoor Air Quality and Health in Newly Constructed Apartments in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Surabaya, Indonesia

“…As shown in Table 5, many Kampong houses and apartment units face problems with mold growth (42% and 37% respectively), which is more than reported in Sweden and Finland (4%) [41,42], and China (5%) [43], but close to that reported in Korea: 35% [44]. According to the mold risk measurements, in Kampongs, 80% of the measured houses are categorized within the highest fungal index, D, an alarming sign, as compared to just 17% of the measurements in apartments ( Figure 5).…”

Soluble CD93 in allergic asthma

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