Geo-climate effects on asthma and allergic diseases in adults in Turkey: Results of PARFAIT study

• Published in: International Journal of Environmental Health Research
• Main Authors: Metintas S., Kurt E., Basyigit I., Bulut I., Coskun E., Dabak S., Deveci F., Fidan, Fatma, Kaynar, Hasan, Kunt Uzaslan, Esra, Onbasi, Kevser, Özkurt, Sibel, Pasaoglu-Karakis, Gulden, Sahan, Sami, Sahin, Unal, Oguzulgen, Kivilcim, Yildiz, Fusun, Mungan, Dilsad, Yorgancioglu, Arzu, Gemicioglu, Bilun, Kalyoncu, A Fuat
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor and Francis Ltd. 2010
• Subjects: aged; air temperature; allergic disease; article; asthma; climate change; controlled study; demography; eczema; female; health survey; human; humidity; major clinical study; male; parent; population research; prevalence; questionnaire; sex difference; temperature measurement; Turkey (republic); wheezing; Turkey; Allergy; Climate; Epidemiology; Health; adult; climate effect; disease prevalence; sami
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/11499/47534; https://doi.org/10.1080/09603120903456828

The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of geo-climatic factors on the prevalence of allergic diseases in the adult population in Turkey. A total of 25,843 questionnaires using data from parents of 25,843 primary schoolchildren from 14 cities were evaluated. Mean annual temperature was significantly associated with the prevalence of asthma and wheezing in both sexes [respectively; OR: 1.008 (95% CI: 1.003-1.011) and OR: 1.012 (1.006-1.018 in males), OR: 1.007 (1.003-1.012) and OR: 1.01 (1.002-1.018) in females]. In addition, it was associated with eczema in females [OR: 1.007 (1.001-1.012)]. Asthma in females was associated with mean annual humidity in the air [OR: 1.001 (1.000-1.002)]. Annual number of days with snow is associated with wheezing in both sexes [respectively, OR: 1.001 (1.000-1.002) in males and OR: 1.002 (1.000-1.003) in females]. Protective measures could come into priority in certain areas of the country. Allergic diseases may increase as a cause of climate change in the future. © 2010 Taylor Francis. PARFAIT Study Group; Ilknur Basyigit (Kocaeli University, Pulmonary Diseases Dept., Kocaeli); Ismet Bulut (Dumlupinar University, Pulmonary Diseases Dept., Kutahya (Current address)); Evsen Coskun (Celal Bayar University, Pulmonary Diseases Dept., Manisa); Sennur Dabak (Ondokuz Mayis University, Public Health Dept., Samsun); Figen Deveci (Firat University, Pulmonary Diseases Dept., Elazig); Fatma Fidan (Kocatepe University, Pulmonary Diseases Dept., Afyon); Hasan Kaynar (Ataturk University, Pulmonary Diseases Dept., Erzurum); Esra Kunt Uzaslan (Uludag University, Pulmonary Diseases Dept., Bursa); Kevser Onbasi (Yuzuncuyil University, Internal Medicine Dept., Van); Sibel Ozkurt (Pamukkale University, Pulmonary Diseases Dept., Denizli); Gulden Pasaoglu-Karakis (Acibadem Hospital, Istanbul); Sami Sahan (State Hospital, Tarsus); Unal Sahin (Suleyman Demirel University, Pulmonary Diseases Dept., Isparta) (authors contributed equally to the study); Kivilcim Oguzulgen (Asthma-Allergy Working ...