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[Housing conditions and allergic sensitization in children]
J Heinrich1, B Hölscher, M Wjst
1GSF-Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit, Institut für Epidemiologie, Neuherberg. Joachim.Heinrich@gsf.de
Insights
Living in modern homes, particularly prefabricated concrete slab or new brick buildings, increases children's risk of allergic sensitization. This study highlights the impact of building type on developing allergies, even after accounting for other indoor factors.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Allergy
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Genetic predisposition and early childhood indoor allergen exposure are key factors in developing allergic diseases.
- The type of building a child resides in since birth may influence their risk of allergic sensitization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between allergic sensitization in children and their residence in different building types since birth.
- To compare the prevalence of allergic sensitization across various building types in children aged 5-14 years.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 811 children (aged 5-14) who have lived in the same home since birth.
- Indoor environmental factors were assessed via questionnaire.
- Allergic sensitization was determined using skin prick tests.
Main Results:
- Children residing in prefabricated concrete slab buildings (post-1970) and new brick buildings showed higher odds of allergic sensitization compared to old brick buildings.
- Pollen sensitization was more prevalent in newer building types (prefabricated slab and new brick).
- Timber-framed houses were associated with increased odds of sensitization to mites.
- Inclusion of specific indoor factors (heating, occupancy, smoke, dampness, mold) had minimal impact on these associations.
Conclusions:
- Modern building types are associated with an increased risk of allergic sensitization in children.
- Building characteristics play a significant role in the development of allergies, independent of common indoor environmental factors.
Abstract:
Genetic predisposition and indoor exposure to allergens-especially during the very early childhood years are major factors for the development of allergic diseases later in life. The present study analyzed the association between allergic sensitization in children aged 5 to 14 years and residing since birth in homes of different building types. A cross-sectional study of 811 children aged 5 to 14 years who resided in the same home since birth investigated indoor factors using a questionnaire and allergic sensitization assessed by skin prick test. The prevalence of allergic sensitization was compared between children who lived since birth in five different building types. After adjustment for age, gender, parental education and study area the odds of allergic sensitization were higher among children who lived in prefabricated concrete slab buildings built after 1970 (OR 1.56, 95% CI: 1.02-2.38) and among children who lived in new brick buildings (OR 1.75, 95% CI: 0.88-3.47) than among children who lived in old brick buildings. Moreover, the odds of pollen sensitization was higher among children who lived in the new building types (prefabricated slab buildings: OR 1.68, 95% CI: 1.04-2.72; new brick buildings: OR 1.48, 95% CI: 0.64-3.42) while living in timber-framed houses was associated with a higher odds of sensitization against mites (OR 1.63, 95% CI: 0.77-3.44). The step by step inclusion of single indoor factors like type of heating, numbers of building storeys, number of persons per room, environmental tobacco smoke, use of gas for cooking purposes, dampness of the home or visible moulds in the logistic regression model only marginally changed the odds ratios. Modern living conditions are associated with a higher odds of allergic sensitization.