Hay fever, asthma and number of older siblings--a twin study. Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology. [Clin Exp Allergy] Journal article | | Title | Hay fever, asthma and number of older siblings--a twin study. | | Author(s) | Räsänen M, Laitinen T, Kaprio J, Koskenvuo M, Laitinen LA | | Institution | Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland. | | Source | Clin Exp Allergy 1997 May; 27(5):515-8. | | MeSH | Adolescent
Asthma
Finland
Humans
Incidence
Questionnaires
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal
Sibling Relations
| | Abstract | BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that allergic sensitization is inversely related to the number of siblings in the family.
OBJECTIVES: To study whether a similar relation can be observed for hay fever and asthma among Finnish adolescents in a population with relatively low prevalence of atopic diseases.
METHODS: A questionnaire mailed to a nationwide sample of 1849 families with 16-year-old twins assessing the cumulative incidence of doctor-diagnosed hay fever and asthma among the adolescents and the number of older siblings in the family by parental report.
RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of hay fever was significantly lower among the adolescents with three or more older siblings (3.9%, 95% CI = 1.2-6.5%) compared with adolescents with fewer older siblings (12.7%, 95% CI = 11.4-14.0%). There was no difference in the cumulative incidence of asthma among the adolescents according to the number of older siblings in the family.
CONCLUSIONS: Large number of older siblings appears to be protective against the development of hay fever. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
Twin Study
| | PubMed ID | 9179425 |
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