Journal of Nippon Medical School: Vol.71 No.3 page.167

Journal of Nippon Medical School

Select Language
in Japanese < > in English

Full Text of this Article

in English PDF (63K)

ArticleTitle Risk Factors and Prevalence of Asthma or Atopic Dermatitis in Young Children by a Questionnaire Survey

AuthorList Tomoyuki Kawada

Affiliation Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon Medical School

Language EN

Volume 71

Issue 3

Year 2004

Page 167-171

Received November 5, 2003

Accepted December 24, 2003

Keywords asthma in young children, atopic dermatitis, prevalence, altitude

Abstract
Little is known about the relation between atopic disorders and altitude of residence. The author investigated the prevalence of asthma and atopic dermatitis, and their relationship with altitude of residence.

A total of 24,631 children aged four years and under in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, were surveyed. The ATS-DLD questionnaire for asthma was distributed together with an item on atopic dermatitis. Some confounding variables were also asked. The author judged subjects as having asthma when positive answers were given to all 6 items in the ATS/DLD questionnaire.

The prevalence of asthma in subjects with atopic dermatitis was higher than in those without (5.1% vs. 1.8%). Logistic regression analyses for asthma and atopic dermatitis were conducted, and male sex, increasing age, family history of target disease, and living at higher altitude commonly and significantly contributed to an increase in the risk of each allergic disorder. For asthma, not being the eldest child, and past or present history of atopic dermatitis were also selected as risk factors.

There was an increase in the prevalence of atopic disorders in groups living at a higher altitude was observed in this area.

Correspondence to Tomoyuki Kawada, MD, Ph D, Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8602, Japan
kawada@nms.ac.jp

ArticleTitle	Risk Factors and Prevalence of Asthma or Atopic Dermatitis in Young Children by a Questionnaire Survey
AuthorList	Tomoyuki Kawada
Affiliation	Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon Medical School
Language	EN
Volume	71
Issue	3
Year	2004
Page	167-171
Received	November 5, 2003
Accepted	December 24, 2003
Keywords	asthma in young children, atopic dermatitis, prevalence, altitude
Abstract	Little is known about the relation between atopic disorders and altitude of residence. The author investigated the prevalence of asthma and atopic dermatitis, and their relationship with altitude of residence. A total of 24,631 children aged four years and under in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, were surveyed. The ATS-DLD questionnaire for asthma was distributed together with an item on atopic dermatitis. Some confounding variables were also asked. The author judged subjects as having asthma when positive answers were given to all 6 items in the ATS/DLD questionnaire. The prevalence of asthma in subjects with atopic dermatitis was higher than in those without (5.1% vs. 1.8%). Logistic regression analyses for asthma and atopic dermatitis were conducted, and male sex, increasing age, family history of target disease, and living at higher altitude commonly and significantly contributed to an increase in the risk of each allergic disorder. For asthma, not being the eldest child, and past or present history of atopic dermatitis were also selected as risk factors. There was an increase in the prevalence of atopic disorders in groups living at a higher altitude was observed in this area.
Correspondence to	Tomoyuki Kawada, MD, Ph D, Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8602, Japan kawada@nms.ac.jp