TY - JOUR
T1 - Association between latitude and allergic diseases: a longitudinal study from childhood to middle-age
AU - Oktaria, Vicka
AU - Dharmage, Shyamali C
AU - Burgess, John
AU - Simpson, Julie A
AU - Morrison, Stephen
AU - Giles, Graham G
AU - Abramson, Michael John
AU - Walters, E Haydn
AU - Matheson, Melanie C
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Worldwide variations in allergy prevalence suggest that geographic factors may contribute to asthma. Ecologic studies have suggested that latitude, a marker of UV-B exposure and allergen exposures, may be related to clinical allergies.
Objective
To examine the relationship between latitude or UV-B based on self-reported geolocation and allergic sensitization and disease prevalence in Australia.
Methods
The Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study is a population-based study of respiratory disease spanning childhood to adulthood. The most recent follow-up included a postal survey of 5,729 participants and a clinical substudy of 1,396 participants. Participants residential addresses were coded for latitude and linked with the UV-B data from satellite-based observations of atmospheric ozone. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the associations between latitude or UV-B and allergic diseases.
Results
Most northerly latitude, that is, latitude closest to the Equator, and high current UV-B exposure were associated with increased odds of hay fever, food allergy, and skin sensitization to house dust mites and molds. More northerly latitude and higher UV-B exposure were associated with increased odds of current asthma among atopic individuals contrasting with a reduced odds of current asthma among nonatopic individuals.
Conclusion
This is the first study, to our knowledge, to demonstrate a differential effect of atopic status on the relationship between latitude and current asthma. Our study demonstrates in a genetically and culturally similar group of individuals that geographic factors may a play role in the development of allergic disease.
AB - Worldwide variations in allergy prevalence suggest that geographic factors may contribute to asthma. Ecologic studies have suggested that latitude, a marker of UV-B exposure and allergen exposures, may be related to clinical allergies.
Objective
To examine the relationship between latitude or UV-B based on self-reported geolocation and allergic sensitization and disease prevalence in Australia.
Methods
The Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study is a population-based study of respiratory disease spanning childhood to adulthood. The most recent follow-up included a postal survey of 5,729 participants and a clinical substudy of 1,396 participants. Participants residential addresses were coded for latitude and linked with the UV-B data from satellite-based observations of atmospheric ozone. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the associations between latitude or UV-B and allergic diseases.
Results
Most northerly latitude, that is, latitude closest to the Equator, and high current UV-B exposure were associated with increased odds of hay fever, food allergy, and skin sensitization to house dust mites and molds. More northerly latitude and higher UV-B exposure were associated with increased odds of current asthma among atopic individuals contrasting with a reduced odds of current asthma among nonatopic individuals.
Conclusion
This is the first study, to our knowledge, to demonstrate a differential effect of atopic status on the relationship between latitude and current asthma. Our study demonstrates in a genetically and culturally similar group of individuals that geographic factors may a play role in the development of allergic disease.
UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1081120612008587
U2 - 10.1016/j.anai.2012.11.005
DO - 10.1016/j.anai.2012.11.005
M3 - Article
VL - 110
SP - 80
EP - 85
JO - Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
JF - Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
SN - 1081-1206
IS - 2
ER -