Full Access

Hay fever, asthma and number of older siblings — a twin study

Corresponding Author

M. RäSäNEN

Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland

Dr M. Räsänen, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Physiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.Search for more papers by this author

T. LAITINEN,

T. LAITINEN

Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland

Search for more papers by this author

J. KAPRIO,

J. KAPRIO

Department of Public Health, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland

Search for more papers by this author

M. KOSKENVUO,

M. KOSKENVUO

Department of Public Health, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland

Search for more papers by this author

L. A. LAITINEN,

L. A. LAITINEN

Department of Public Health, Turku University, Turku, Finland

Search for more papers by this author

M. RäSäNEN,

Corresponding Author

M. RäSäNEN

Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland

T. LAITINEN,

T. LAITINEN

Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland

Search for more papers by this author

J. KAPRIO,

J. KAPRIO

Department of Public Health, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland

Search for more papers by this author

M. KOSKENVUO,

M. KOSKENVUO

Department of Public Health, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland

Search for more papers by this author

L. A. LAITINEN,

L. A. LAITINEN

Department of Public Health, Turku University, Turku, Finland

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 27 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2222.1997.tb00739.x

Citations: 29

About

PDF

Tools

Share a link

Email
Wechat
Bluesky

Summary

Background It has been suggested that allergic sensitization is inversely related to the number of siblings in the family.

Objectives To study whether a similar relation can be observed for hay fever and asthma among Finnish adolescents in a population with relatively low prevalence of atopic diseases.

Methods A questionnaire mailed to a nationwide sample of 1849 families with 16-year- old twins assessing the cumulative incidence of doctor-diagnosed hay fever and asthma among the adolescents and the number of older siblings in the family by parental report.

Results The cumulative incidence of hay fever was significantly lower among the adolescents with three or more older siblings (3.9%, 95% CI= 1.2–6.5%) compared with adolescents with fewer older siblings (12.7%, 95% CI=11.4–14.0%). There was no difference in the cumulative incidence of asthma among the adolescents according to the number of older siblings in the family.

Conclusions Large number of older siblings appears to be protective against the development of hay fever.

References

1 Newman-Taylor A. Environmental determinants of asthma. Lancet 1995; 345: 296–9.
10.1016/S0140-6736(95)90280-5
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
2 Strachan DP. Hay fever, hygiene, and household size. BMJ 1989; 299: 1259–60.
10.1136/bmj.299.6710.1259
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
3 Von Mutius E, Martinez FD, Fritzsch C, Nicolai T, Reitmeir P, Thiemann H-H. Skin test reactivity and number of siblings. BMJ 1994; 308: 692–5.
10.1136/bmj.308.6930.692
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
4 Kaprio J, Koskenvuo M, Rose RJ. Population-based twin registries: illustrative applications in genetic epidemiology and behavioral genetics from the Finnish Twin Cohort Study. Acta Genet Med Gemollol 1990; 39: 427–39.
10.1017/S0001566000003652
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
5 Kaprio J, Rimpelä A, Viken RJ, Winter T, Rimpelä M, Rose RJ. Common genetic influences on BMI at menarche. Human Biology 1995; 67: 739–53.
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
6 Nieminen MM, Kaprio J, Koskenvuo M. A population-based study of bronchial asthma in adult twin pairs. Chest 1991; 100: 70–5.
10.1378/chest.100.1.70
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
7 Duffy DL, Martin NG, Battistutta D, Hopper JL, Mathews JD. Genetics of asthma and hay fever in Australian twins. Am Rev Respir Dis 1990; 142: 1351–8.
10.1164/ajrccm/142.6_Pt_1.1351
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
8 Varjonen E, Kalimo K, Lammintausta K, Terho P. Prevalence of atopic disorders among adolescents in Turku, Finland. Allergy 1992; 47: 243–8.
10.1111/j.1398-9995.1992.tb00657.x
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
9 Rimpelä AH, Savonius B, Rimpelä MK, Haahtela T. Asthma and allergic rhinitis among Finnish adolescents in 1977–1991. Scand J Soc Med 1995; 23: 60–5.
10.1177/140349489502300111
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
10 Timonen KL, Pekkanen J, Korppi M, Vahteristo M, Salonen RO. Prevalence and characteristics of children with chronic respiratory symptoms in eastern Finland. Eur Respir J 1995; 8: 1155–60.
10.1183/09031936.95.08071155
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
11 Strachan DP, Griffiths JM, Anderson HR, Johnston I. Allergic sensitisation and position in the sibship: a national study of young British adults. Thorax 1994; 49; 1053P.
Google Scholar
12 Strachan DP. Epidemiology of hay fever: towards a community diagnosis. Clin Exp Allergy 1995; 25: 296–303.
10.1111/j.1365-2222.1995.tb01046.x
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
13 Von Mutius E, Martinez FD, Fritzsch C, Nicolai T, Roell G, Thiemann HH. Prevalence of asthma and atopy in two areas of West and East Germany. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1994; 149: 358–64.
10.1164/ajrccm.149.2.8306030
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
14 Flynn MGL. Respiratory symptoms, bronchial responsiveness, and atopy in Fijian and Indian children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1994; 150: 415–20.
10.1164/ajrccm.150.2.8049824
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
15 Peltz G. A role for CD4 + T-cell subsets producing a selective pattern of lymphokines in the pathogenesis of human chronic inflammatory and allergic diseases. Immunol Rev 1991; 123: 23–35.
10.1111/j.1600-065X.1991.tb00604.x
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
16 Paul EW, Seder RA. Lymphocyte responses and cytokines. Cell 1994; 76: 241–51.
10.1016/0092-8674(94)90332-8
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
17 Shaheen SO. Changing patterns of childhood infection and the rise in allergic disease. Clin Exp Allergy 1995; 25: 1034–7.
10.1111/j.1365-2222.1995.tb03248.x
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
18 Lewis S, Richards D, Bynner J, Butler N, Britton J. Prospective study of risk factors for early and persistent wheezing in childhood. Eur Respir J 1995; 8: 349–56.
10.1183/09031936.95.08030349
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
19 Strachan DP, Butland BK, Anderson HR. Incidence and prognosis of asthma and wheezing illness from early childhood to age 33 in a national British cohort. BMJ 1996; 312: 1195–9.
10.1136/bmj.312.7040.1195
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
20 Peat JK, Woolcock AJ, Leeder SR, Blackburn CRB. Asthma and bronchitis in Sydney schoolchildren II. The effect of social factors and smoking on prevalence. Am J Epidemiol 1980; 111: 728–35.
10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112951
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
21 Crane J, Pearce N, Shaw R, Fitzharris P. Asthma and having siblings. BMJ 1994; 309: 272.
10.1136/bmj.309.6949.272
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
22 Von Mutius E, Nicolai T. Familial aggregation of asthma in a South Bavarian population. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1996; 153: 1266–72.
10.1164/ajrccm.153.4.8616552
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
23 Sibbald B, Horn MEC, Brain EA, Gregg I. Genetic factors in childhood asthma. Thorax 1980; 35: 671–4.
10.1136/thx.35.9.671
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
24 Cochran WG. Some methods for strengthening the common chi-square tests. Biometrics 1954; 10: 417–51.
10.2307/3001616
Web of Science® Google Scholar

Citing Literature

Volume27, Issue5

May 1997

Pages 515-518

Hay fever, asthma and number of older siblings — a twin study

Summary

References

Citing Literature

References

Information

About Wiley Online Library

Help & Support

Opportunities

Connect with Wiley

Hay fever, asthma and number of older siblings — a twin study

Summary

References

Citing Literature

References

Related

Information