BACKGROUND: Little is known about causes of asthma and sensitization in desert countries. OBJECTIVE: To investigate risk factors associated with asthma and sensitization in Kuwait. METHODS: One hundred sixty children (9-16 years) with physician-diagnosed asthma were recruited and matched (age, sex) with 303 healthy controls. Risk factors were assessed by questionnaires, determination of sensitization status (skin tests and IgE), and home allergen exposure (mite, cat, dog, cockroach; ELISA). RESULTS: Home allergen levels and frequency of pet ownership were very low (cat, 4.1%; dog, 1.5%). The risk of cat sensitization increased significantly among cat owners (odds ratio [OR], 3.53; 95% CI, 1.33-9.41; P = .01), and in children with reported contact with cats during the first year of life (OR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.17-5.80; P = .019). In the multivariate analysis, maternal atopy (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.13-2.75; P = .01) and cat ownership (OR, 3.32; 95% CI, 1.19-9.25; P = .02) remained significant associates of cat sensitization. Current dog ownership significantly increased the risk of sensitization to dog (OR, 6.05; 95% CI, 1.33-27.54; P = .02). In the multivariate analysis, dog ownership remained the only significant associate of dog sensitization (OR, 6.02; 95% CI, 1.30-27.96; P = .02). Sensitization to Alternaria was the strongest independent associate of the asthma group. Family history of asthma, history of whooping cough, current cat ownership, and breast-feeding <2 months were other significant and independent risk factors for asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Pet ownership markedly increased the risk of sensitization to pets. Despite low allergen exposure, the pattern of childhood asthma in Kuwait follows that described in Western communities (strong association with sensitization).
BACKGROUND: Little is known about causes of asthma and sensitization in desert countries. OBJECTIVE: To investigate risk factors associated with asthma and sensitization in Kuwait. METHODS: One hundred sixty children (9-16 years) with physician-diagnosed asthma were recruited and matched (age, sex) with 303 healthy controls. Risk factors were assessed by questionnaires, determination of sensitization status (skin tests and IgE), and home allergen exposure (mite, cat, dog, cockroach; ELISA). RESULTS: Home allergen levels and frequency of pet ownership were very low (cat, 4.1%; dog, 1.5%). The risk of cat sensitization increased significantly among cat owners (odds ratio [OR], 3.53; 95% CI, 1.33-9.41; P = .01), and in children with reported contact with cats during the first year of life (OR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.17-5.80; P = .019). In the multivariate analysis, maternal atopy (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.13-2.75; P = .01) and cat ownership (OR, 3.32; 95% CI, 1.19-9.25; P = .02) remained significant associates of cat sensitization. Current dog ownership significantly increased the risk of sensitization to dog (OR, 6.05; 95% CI, 1.33-27.54; P = .02). In the multivariate analysis, dog ownership remained the only significant associate of dog sensitization (OR, 6.02; 95% CI, 1.30-27.96; P = .02). Sensitization to Alternaria was the strongest independent associate of the asthma group. Family history of asthma, history of whooping cough, current cat ownership, and breast-feeding <2 months were other significant and independent risk factors for asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Pet ownership markedly increased the risk of sensitization to pets. Despite low allergen exposure, the pattern of childhood asthma in Kuwait follows that described in Western communities (strong association with sensitization).
Authors: Omar Olmedo; Inge F Goldstein; Luis Acosta; Adnan Divjan; Andrew G Rundle; Ginger L Chew; Robert B Mellins; Lori Hoepner; Howard Andrews; Sara Lopez-Pintado; James W Quinn; Frederica P Perera; Rachel L Miller; Judith S Jacobson; Matthew S Perzanowski Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2011-05-04 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: Darcy Güngör; Perrine Nadaud; Concetta C LaPergola; Carol Dreibelbis; Yat Ping Wong; Nancy Terry; Steve A Abrams; Leila Beker; Tova Jacobovits; Kirsi M Järvinen; Laurie A Nommsen-Rivers; Kimberly O O'Brien; Emily Oken; Rafael Pérez-Escamilla; Ekhard E Ziegler; Joanne M Spahn Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2019-03-01 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: Janneane F Gent; Kathleen Belanger; Elizabeth W Triche; Michael B Bracken; William S Beckett; Brian P Leaderer Journal: Environ Res Date: 2009-05-26 Impact factor: 6.498
Authors: Matthew S Perzanowski; Ginger L Chew; Adnan Divjan; Alina Johnson; Inge F Goldstein; Robin S Garfinkel; Lori A Hoepner; Thomas A E Platts-Mills; Frederica P Perera; Rachel L Miller Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2008-04 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: Karin C Lødrup Carlsen; Stephanie Roll; Kai-Håkon Carlsen; Petter Mowinckel; Alet H Wijga; Bert Brunekreef; Maties Torrent; Graham Roberts; S Hasan Arshad; Inger Kull; Ursula Krämer; Andrea von Berg; Esben Eller; Arne Høst; Claudia Kuehni; Ben Spycher; Jordi Sunyer; Chih-Mei Chen; Andreas Reich; Anna Asarnoj; Carmen Puig; Olf Herbarth; Jestinah M Mahachie John; Kristel Van Steen; Stefan N Willich; Ulrich Wahn; Susanne Lau; Thomas Keil Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-08-29 Impact factor: 3.240