BACKGROUND: The prevalence of eczema varies markedly across the globe. It is unclear whether the geographic variation is due to race and/or ethnic differences, environmental exposures, or genetic factors. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of ethnicity and environmental exposures on eczema in Hispanic white and non-Hispanic white children who participated in the Southern California Children's Health Study. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study with sociodemographic predictors and environmental exposures among Hispanic white and non-Hispanic white children ages 4-8 years enrolled in the Children's Health Study, 2002-2003. RESULTS: Eczema prevalence differed by ethnicity: Hispanic whites showed lower prevalence (13.8%) compared with non-Hispanic whites (20.2%), and adjustment for sociodemographic factors did not account for the ethnic difference (odds ratio [OR] 0.79 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.65-0.95]). Parental history of allergic disease had a larger effect in Hispanic whites than in non-Hispanic whites (p for interaction = 0.005). High maternal education level (OR 1.46 [95% CI, 1.14-1.87]), parental history of allergic disease (OR 2.21 [95% CI, 1.78-2.76]), and maternal smoking during pregnancy (OR 1.44 [95% CI, 1.06-1.95]) increased the risk of eczema. Indoor environmental factors (e.g., mold, water damage, humidifier use) increased the risk of eczema in non-Hispanic whites independent of a parental history of allergic disease, but, in Hispanic whites, increased risks were observed, primarily in children without a parental history of allergic disease. CONCLUSION: Hispanic white children in southern California had a lower prevalence of eczema than non-Hispanic whites, and this ethnic difference was not accounted for by sociodemographic differences. The effects of a parental history of allergic disease and indoor environmental exposures on eczema varied by ethnicity, which indicated that the etiology of eczema may differ in Hispanic whites and in non-Hispanic whites.
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of eczema varies markedly across the globe. It is unclear whether the geographic variation is due to race and/or ethnic differences, environmental exposures, or genetic factors. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of ethnicity and environmental exposures on eczema in Hispanic white and non-Hispanic white children who participated in the Southern California Children's Health Study. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study with sociodemographic predictors and environmental exposures among Hispanic white and non-Hispanic white children ages 4-8 years enrolled in the Children's Health Study, 2002-2003. RESULTS:Eczema prevalence differed by ethnicity: Hispanic whites showed lower prevalence (13.8%) compared with non-Hispanic whites (20.2%), and adjustment for sociodemographic factors did not account for the ethnic difference (odds ratio [OR] 0.79 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.65-0.95]). Parental history of allergic disease had a larger effect in Hispanic whites than in non-Hispanic whites (p for interaction = 0.005). High maternal education level (OR 1.46 [95% CI, 1.14-1.87]), parental history of allergic disease (OR 2.21 [95% CI, 1.78-2.76]), and maternal smoking during pregnancy (OR 1.44 [95% CI, 1.06-1.95]) increased the risk of eczema. Indoor environmental factors (e.g., mold, water damage, humidifier use) increased the risk of eczema in non-Hispanic whites independent of a parental history of allergic disease, but, in Hispanic whites, increased risks were observed, primarily in children without a parental history of allergic disease. CONCLUSION: Hispanic white children in southern California had a lower prevalence of eczema than non-Hispanic whites, and this ethnic difference was not accounted for by sociodemographic differences. The effects of a parental history of allergic disease and indoor environmental exposures on eczema varied by ethnicity, which indicated that the etiology of eczema may differ in Hispanic whites and in non-Hispanic whites.
Authors: Adam J Sybilski; Filip Raciborski; Agnieszka Lipiec; Aneta Tomaszewska; Adam Lusawa; Piotr Samel-Kowalik; Artur Walkiewicz; Edyta Krzych-Fałta; Bolesław Samoliński Journal: J Dermatol Date: 2014-12-06 Impact factor: 4.005
Authors: Rob McConnell; Kiros Berhane; Ling Yao; Michael Jerrett; Fred Lurmann; Frank Gilliland; Nino Künzli; Jim Gauderman; Ed Avol; Duncan Thomas; John Peters Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2006-05 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: Nandini Mukherjee; Thomas R Sutter; Syed Hasan Arshad; John W Holloway; Hongmei Zhang; Wilfried Karmaus Journal: Clin Exp Allergy Date: 2018-12 Impact factor: 5.018
Authors: Carina Venter; Michaela P Palumbo; Katherine A Sauder; Deborah H Glueck; Andrew H Liu; Ivana V Yang; Miriam Ben-Abdallah; David M Fleischer; Dana Dabelea Journal: World Allergy Organ J Date: 2021-03-11 Impact factor: 4.084