1. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis
#407 Lifestyle Risk Factors for Allergic Rhinitis in Schoolchildren: Are Sports Activities a Negative Factor? Jiro Takeuchi1),2),3), Takashi Kusunoki1),4), Takeshi Morimoto1),5), Mio Sakuma1),5), Kumiko Mukaida1),4),6), Takahiro Yasumi1),7), Ryuta Nishikomori1),7) and Toshio Heike1),7)
1)Shiga LAKE Study Group, Japan, 2)Osaka Saiseikai Nakatsu Hospital, Osaka, Japan, 3)Kyoto University Health Service, Kyoto, Japan, 4)Department of Pediatrics, Shiga Medical Center for Children, Shiga, Japan, 5)Center for General Internal Medicine and Emergency Care, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan, 6)Kumiko Allergy Clinic, Kyoto, Japan, 7)Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Results
Discussion
Summary
Conclusion
This study aimed to investigate various lifestyle factors and their association with symptoms of allergic rhinitis in schoolchildren. A questionnaire regarding lifestyle factors and allergic rhinitis was distributed to the parents of 7-year-old schoolchildren at primary school. We developed logistic regression models to evaluate the association between lifestyle factors and allergic rhinitis. Participating in sports activities and commuting on foot were associated with higher symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
Among the parents of year-old children who attended primary school, 640 (84.3%) answered the questionnaire. Background characteristics of the participants are shown in Table 1.
Of these children, 223 (34.8%) had allergic rhinitis symptoms. Associations between lifestyle factors and symptoms of allergic rhinitis are shown in Table 2. Among the lifestyle factors investigated, children who participated in any sports activities after school had significantly more allergic rhinitis symptoms than those who did not (OR=1.50, P=0.03).
These data indicate that spending longer time outdoors, such as sports activities and commuting on foot to school, is a risk factor for allergic rhinitis. Increasing exposure to outdoor allergens, such as pollen, might increase the risk of having allergic nasal symptoms.
We are planning a further prospective study to evaluate the causal lifestyle factors for allergic rhinitis in schoolchildren.
Participating in sports activities and commuting on foot were associated with higher symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Increased exposure to pollen or other outdoor allergens may contribute to these associations.
Results
<LAKE> study is Funded through Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research <KAKENHI>（ ）.
Objective
Table 2 Lifestyle factors and symptoms of allergic rhinitis
Similarly, children whose commuting time on foot to school was 30 minutes or more tended to have more allergic rhinitis symptoms than those whose commuting time was less than 30 minutes (OR=1.39, P=0.07). No significant association between other lifestyle factors (passive smoking, obesity, bedtime, wake-up time, and eating habits, etc.) and allergic rhinitis symptoms was found.
In order to investigate various lifestyle factors and their association with symptoms of allergic rhinitis in schoolchildren.
Lifestyle factors
Symptoms of allergic rhinitis
Symptom rate
Crude OR
(95% CI)
Adjusted OR
yes (n=223) no
(n=417)
Low birth weight (< 2500 g)
yes 21 36
36.8%
1.09 ( )
1.04 ( )
202
379
34.8%
Birth order (1st)
120
203
37.2%
1.22 ( )
1.16 ( ) 99
204
32.7%
Passive smoking 94
186
33.6%
0.89 ( )
0.97 ( )
125
221
36.1%
History of day care attendance 88
148
37.3%
1.18 ( )
1.15 ( )
131
260
33.5%
History of breast feeding
(within 6 months after birth) 66
135
32.8%
0.87 ( )
0.88 ( )
153
272
36.0%
History of flu vaccination
190
340
35.9%
1.30 ( )
1.28 ( ) 33 77
30.0%
Obesity (BMI≧25.0) 10 22
31.3%
0.84 ( )
1.00 ( )
213
392
35.2%
Sports activity (≧once/week)
129
201
39.1%
1.47 ( )
1.50 ( )
216
30.3%
Sitting or lying down on holiday
100
171
36.9%
1.17 ( )
1.31 ( )
(≧7 hours)
123
246
33.3%
Wake-up time (earlier than 7AM)
210
390
35.0%
1.12 ( )
0.97 ( ) 13 27
32.5%
Having breakfast every day
214
394
1.39 ( )
1.49 ( ) 9 23
28.1%
Commuting time on foot 95
147
39.3%
1.36 ( )
1.39 ( )
(≧30 minutes)
128
270
32.2%
Having night snack 54
35.3%
1.03 ( )
1.08 ( )
169
318
34.7%
Bedtime (earlier than 9PM) 50
36.2%
1.06 ( )
1.09 ( )
173
332
Methods
A questionnaire regarding lifestyle factors and allergic rhinitis was distributed to the parents of 7-year-old schoolchildren at every primary school in Ohmi-Hachiman City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The International Collaborative Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire provided information about the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. Following the descriptive statistics, we developed univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to evaluate the association between lifestyle factors and allergic rhinitis symptoms. P values <0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance and P values <0.1 were considered to indicate a tendency.
Table 1
Characteristics of participants
No. of schoolchildren
640
Male, sex (%)
308 (48.1)
Age (yrs) mean±SD
7.97±0.28
Present illness (%)
Allergic conjunctitis symptoms
103 (16.1)
Bronchial asthma symptoms
169 (26.4)
Atopic dermatitis symptoms
148 (23.1)
Food allergy symptoms
70 (10.9)
Family history (%)
Allergic conjunctitis prevalence
52 ( 8.1)
Bronchial asthma prevalence
141 (22.0)
Atopic dermatitis prevalence
145 (22.7)
Food allergy prevalence
84 (13.1)
Japan
Ohmi-Hachiman City
2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology San Antonio, Texas, USA, February 22-26, 2013
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