International Journal of Epidemiology
Volume 43, Issue 6, 2014, Pages 1846-1854

Does migration affect asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema prevalence? Global findings from the international study of asthma and allergies in childhood (Article) (Open Access)

Garcia-marcos L.* , Robertson C.F. , Anderson H.R. , Ellwood P. , Williams H.C. , Wong G.W.
  • a Respiratory Medicine and Allergy Units, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Children's Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
  • b Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
  • c MRC Centre for Environment and Health, St George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
  • d Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
  • e Centre of Evidence-Based Dermatology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
  • f Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China

Abstract

Background: Immigrants to Westernized countries adopt the prevalence of allergic diseases of native populations, yet no data are available on immigrants to low-income or low-disease prevalence countries. We investigated these questions using data from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Methods: Standardized questionnaires were completed by 13-14-year-old adolescents and by the parent/guardians of 6-7-year-old children. Questions on the symptom prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema, and a wide range of factors postulated to be associated with these conditions, including birth in or not in the country and age at immigration, were asked. Odds ratios for risk of the three diseases according to immigration status were calculated using generalized linear mixed models. These were adjusted for: world region; language and gross national income; and individual risk factors including gender, maternal education, antibiotic and paracetamol use, maternal smoking, and diet. Effect modification by gross national income and by prevalence was examined. Results: There were 326 691 adolescents from 48 countries and 208 523 children from 31 countries. Immigration was associated with a lower prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in both age groups than among those born in the country studied, and this association was mainly confined to high-prevalence/affluent countries. This reduced risk was greater in those who had lived fewer years in the host country. Conclusions: Recent migration to high prevalence/affluent countries is associated with a lower prevalence of allergic diseases. The protective pre-migration environment quickly decreases with increasing time in the host country. © The Author 2014; all rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Migration Epidemiology Rhinoconjunctivitis Eczema ISAAC Asthma

Index Keywords

dermatitis health risk human immigration statistics and numerical data antibiotic agent controlled study priority journal diet Conjunctivitis, Allergic Rhinitis, Allergic socioeconomic conditions income Humans migrant Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants maternal smoking asthma female risk factor eczema questionnaire rhinoconjunctivitis symptom child health prevalence Article disease prevalence allergy Questionnaires major clinical study migration drug use childhood disease Emigration and Immigration Linear Models statistical model disease incidence paracetamol Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84922347481&doi=10.1093%2fije%2fdyu145&partnerID=40&md5=1b4fd58e466615e24892f67d1c6140b7
DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyu145
ISSN: 03005771
Cited by: 31
Original Language: English