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Influence of Farm Environment on Asthma during the Life Course: A Population-Based Birth Cohort Study in Northern Finland

Author

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  • Marko T. Kantomaa

    (Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90220 Oulu, Finland)

  • Mimmi Tolvanen

    (Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90220 Oulu, Finland)

  • Miia Halonen

    (Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90220 Oulu, Finland)

  • Cecilie Svanes

    (Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway
    Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, N-5009 Bergen, Norway)

  • Marjo-Riitta Järvelin

    (Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90220 Oulu, Finland
    Unit of Primary Care, Oulu University Hospital, 90220 Oulu, Finland
    MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK)

  • Sylvain Sebert

    (Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90220 Oulu, Finland)

Abstract

We investigated the influence of a farming environment on asthma at three time points from birth to 46 years using the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (n = 10,926). The prevalence of asthma was investigated by postal questionnaires at 14, 31 and 46 years of age. Exposure to a farming environment was assessed by a postal questionnaire at birth and at 31 and 46 years of age. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the prevalence of asthma were obtained from multinomial logistic regression, stratified by sex. Being born in a farmer family was potentially causally associated with lower risk of asthma in males at 31 years of age (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.37, 0.85) and in females at 46 years of age (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.44, 0.95). Working as a farmer was not associated with asthma. Exposure to a farming environment in childhood may have a lifelong impact on developing asthma from birth through young adulthood and until middle age, indicating that ‘immune deviation’ may persist throughout life.

Suggested Citation

  • Marko T. Kantomaa & Mimmi Tolvanen & Miia Halonen & Cecilie Svanes & Marjo-Riitta Järvelin & Sylvain Sebert, 2023. "Influence of Farm Environment on Asthma during the Life Course: A Population-Based Birth Cohort Study in Northern Finland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-11, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:2128-:d:1045716
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Signe Timm & Morten Frydenberg & Christer Janson & Brittany Campbell & Bertil Forsberg & Thorarinn Gislason & Mathias Holm & Rain Jogi & Ernst Omenaas & Torben Sigsgaard & Cecilie Svanes & Vivi Schlün, 2015. "The Urban-Rural Gradient In Asthma: A Population-Based Study in Northern Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
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