High Incidence of Atopic Dermatitis among Children Whose Fathers Work in Primary Industry: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS)

Hiroshi Yokomichi, Mie Mochizuki, Reiji Kojima, Sayaka Horiuchi, Tadao Ooka, Yuka Akiyama, Kunio Miyake, Megumi Kushima, Sanae Otawa, Ryoji Shinohara, Zentaro Yamagata and on behalf of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group
Additional contact information
Hiroshi Yokomichi: Department of Health Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Chuo 4093898, Yamanashi, Japan
Mie Mochizuki: Department of Paediatrics, University of Yamanashi, Chuo 4093898, Yamanashi, Japan
Reiji Kojima: Department of Health Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Chuo 4093898, Yamanashi, Japan
Sayaka Horiuchi: Centre for Birth Cohort Studies, University of Yamanashi, Chuo 4093898, Yamanashi, Japan
Tadao Ooka: Department of Health Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Chuo 4093898, Yamanashi, Japan
Yuka Akiyama: Department of Health Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Chuo 4093898, Yamanashi, Japan
Kunio Miyake: Department of Health Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Chuo 4093898, Yamanashi, Japan
Megumi Kushima: Centre for Birth Cohort Studies, University of Yamanashi, Chuo 4093898, Yamanashi, Japan
Sanae Otawa: Centre for Birth Cohort Studies, University of Yamanashi, Chuo 4093898, Yamanashi, Japan
Ryoji Shinohara: Centre for Birth Cohort Studies, University of Yamanashi, Chuo 4093898, Yamanashi, Japan
Zentaro Yamagata: Department of Health Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Chuo 4093898, Yamanashi, Japan
on behalf of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group: Study group members are listed in the Acknowledgments.

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-10

Abstract: The hygiene hypothesis assumes a low incidence of allergic diseases in families engaging in farming work. However, a few studies have indicated rural life as a potential risk factor for atopic dermatitis (AD). Using a large Japanese birth cohort dataset, we calculated the accumulated incidence of AD in children aged 6 months and 1, 2, and 3 years by family business and the hazard ratio. We adjusted for confounding factors. The father’s job was considered the family business. We analysed data on 41,469 father–child pairs at 6 months of age, 40,067 pairs at 1 year, 38,286 pairs at 2 years, and 36,570 pairs at 3 years. We found the highest accumulated incidence of AD among children with fathers engaged in primary industry, with 2.5% at the age of 6 months, 6.6% at 1 year, 12.0% at 2 years, and 15.4% at 3 years. Among primary industry occupations, forestry was associated with the highest incidence of AD across these ages. The hazard ratio of AD was also highest for children whose family business was primary industry. In conclusion, the highest incidence and hazard ratio of AD were observed among children whose fathers worked in primary industry.

Keywords: hygiene hypothesis; atopic dermatitis; agriculture; children; livestock; forestry industry; endotoxin; urban living; country living; primary industry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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