A Childhood Farm Environment Protects from Allergic Sensitization until Middle Age but Not from New-Onset Sensitization in Adulthood: A 15 Year Longitudinal Study

Anna Karoliina Haarala, Suvi-Päivikki Sinikumpu, Eeva Vaaramo, Jari Jokelainen, Markku Timonen, Juha Auvinen, Juha Pekkanen and Laura Huilaja
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Anna Karoliina Haarala: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Oulu, Finland and Medical Research Center, PEDEGO Research Group, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland
Suvi-Päivikki Sinikumpu: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Oulu, Finland and Medical Research Center, PEDEGO Research Group, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland
Eeva Vaaramo: Infrastructure for Population Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland
Jari Jokelainen: Infrastructure for Population Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland
Markku Timonen: Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland
Juha Auvinen: Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland
Juha Pekkanen: Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
Laura Huilaja: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Oulu, Finland and Medical Research Center, PEDEGO Research Group, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-11

Abstract: Data are insufficient on the protective effect of a farm environment in childhood regarding sensitization in middle age and new-onset sensitization in adulthood. A skin prick test (SPT) and questionnaire data from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study (NFBC66) were used to investigate sensitization at age 46 years related to childhood living environment. A subpopulation of 3409 participants was analyzed to study factors related to new-onset sensitization between ages of 31 and 46 years. Data on complete SPTs were available for 5373 cohort members at age 46. Professional farming by parents (odds ratio (OR) 0.54; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43–0.68) and keeping of farm animals (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.43–0.66) in infancy were associated with a lower risk of sensitization at age 46. Sensitization (OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.47–0.72) and polysensitization (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.32–0.57) were less common in those who lived in a rural area in infancy compared to a city area. The childhood living environment had no effect on new-onset sensitization between ages 31 and 46. We conclude that living on a farm or in a rural environment in childhood had a protective effect on sensitization even in middle age, but these factors did not protect from new-onset sensitization in adults.

Keywords: adulthood; childhood; farm; new onset; sensitization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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