Childhood obesity and allergic rhinitis: A meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Public Health and Epidemiology
• Obesity Research

Background:

• Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common childhood condition with increasing prevalence.
• Obesity is a growing public health concern in children.
• Research is exploring potential links between modifiable factors like obesity and AR incidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis assessing the multivariate-adjusted relationship between childhood obesity and allergic rhinitis.
• To synthesize evidence from observational studies on this association.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.
• Inclusion of observational studies with multivariate adjustments for age and sex.
• Random-effects models used to pool odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Main Results:

• Analysis of 15 cross-sectional studies (569,856 children) found no overall significant association between childhood obesity and AR (aOR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00-1.09).
• Subgroup analyses revealed a significant association in Western countries (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.00-1.24) but not in Asian countries (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.97-1.12).
• Significant associations were noted with national/international BMI cutoffs and physician-diagnosed AR, but not with 95th percentile BMI or ISAAC-based diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• While the overall link between childhood obesity and AR is not statistically significant, subgroup findings suggest potential associations in specific geographic regions and diagnostic contexts.
• These results highlight the importance of considering methodological variations in defining obesity and AR.
• Further longitudinal research is recommended to clarify the relationship and inform preventive strategies for both conditions.