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Related Experiment Videos

Latitude, birth date, and allergy.

Matthias Wjst1, Shyamali Dharmage, Elisabeth André

  • 1Gruppe Molekulare Epidemiologie, Institut für Epidemiologie, Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit, Munich, Germany. m@wjst.de

Plos Medicine
|September 30, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Allergy prevalence varies globally, but birth month is not a significant risk factor. Language group, not birth timing, appears to influence adult allergy development.

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Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Immunology
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Allergic diseases are common, with potential links to environmental exposures and timing.
  • Previous research suggests a possible association between month of birth and allergy risk.
  • Multinational studies considering latitude are needed to clarify these associations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the global distribution of allergy risk factors.
  • To determine if month of birth influences the prevalence of allergic diseases.
  • To explore the role of latitude and other environmental factors in allergy development.

Main Methods:

  • A large-scale international questionnaire survey of 200,682 adults aged 20-44.
  • Data collected from 54 centers across Europe, North Africa, India, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

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  • Statistical analysis including multivariate analysis of IgE levels in 18,085 individuals.

    • Main Results:

    • Median allergic rhinitis prevalence was 22%, with significant geographical variation.
    • Allergic rhinitis generally decreased with increasing latitude, but with exceptions.
    • No significant increase in allergy prevalence during winter was observed, and birth month showed minimal impact.

    Conclusions:

    • Early life exposures, such as allergen contact or winter infections, do not appear to be major drivers of adult allergy.
    • While latitude and climate may play a role, factors within language groups are more significant.
    • Genetic or cultural factors within language groups likely contribute to allergy risk.