TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of asthma in a large group of israeli adolescents
T2 - Influence of country of birth and age at migration
AU - Pereg, D.
AU - Tirosh, A.
AU - Lishner, M.
AU - Goldberg, A.
AU - Shochat, T.
AU - Confino-Cohen, R.
PY - 2008/8
Y1 - 2008/8
N2 - Background: The occurrence of asthma has geographic variations and is lower in developing compared with industrialized countries. Both environmental and genetic factors may influence its prevalence. We aimed to evaluate the importance and effect of immigration (country of birth and age at immigration to Israel) on the prevalence of asthma in a large group of Israeli adolescents. Methods: Computerized medical records of 17-year-old adolescents, who underwent routine examination before military recruitment, were studied. The sample comprised both native-born Israelis (NBI) and immigrants from Ethiopia, the Former Soviet Union (FSU), and Western countries (WC). Asthma was defined as clinical symptoms and signs compatible with the disease accompanied by abnormal spirometry or documented chronic use of inhaled steroids. Results: Our cohort consisted of 1 466 654 adolescents, including 1 317 556 (89.8%) NBI and 149 098 (10.2%) immigrants. The prevalence of asthma at age 17 was higher in NBI compared with Ethiopian immigrants [4.7% (61 921) vs 2.6% (418), respectively, P < 0.0005], lower compared with immigrants from WC [5.6% (2177), P < 0.0005], and similar to immigrants from the FSU. Further analysis of the association between age at immigration and the risk for developing asthma showed that the younger immigrants from the FSU and Ethiopia arrived to Israel, the higher their prevalence of asthma at the age of 17 was. Conclusions: Both environmental and genetic factors seem to influence the prevalence of asthma in 17-year-old adolescents. However, the higher risk for developing asthma associated with young age of immigration points toward an environmental predominance.
AB - Background: The occurrence of asthma has geographic variations and is lower in developing compared with industrialized countries. Both environmental and genetic factors may influence its prevalence. We aimed to evaluate the importance and effect of immigration (country of birth and age at immigration to Israel) on the prevalence of asthma in a large group of Israeli adolescents. Methods: Computerized medical records of 17-year-old adolescents, who underwent routine examination before military recruitment, were studied. The sample comprised both native-born Israelis (NBI) and immigrants from Ethiopia, the Former Soviet Union (FSU), and Western countries (WC). Asthma was defined as clinical symptoms and signs compatible with the disease accompanied by abnormal spirometry or documented chronic use of inhaled steroids. Results: Our cohort consisted of 1 466 654 adolescents, including 1 317 556 (89.8%) NBI and 149 098 (10.2%) immigrants. The prevalence of asthma at age 17 was higher in NBI compared with Ethiopian immigrants [4.7% (61 921) vs 2.6% (418), respectively, P < 0.0005], lower compared with immigrants from WC [5.6% (2177), P < 0.0005], and similar to immigrants from the FSU. Further analysis of the association between age at immigration and the risk for developing asthma showed that the younger immigrants from the FSU and Ethiopia arrived to Israel, the higher their prevalence of asthma at the age of 17 was. Conclusions: Both environmental and genetic factors seem to influence the prevalence of asthma in 17-year-old adolescents. However, the higher risk for developing asthma associated with young age of immigration points toward an environmental predominance.
KW - Asthma
KW - Environmentaleffect
KW - Genetic effect
KW - Immigrants
KW - Immigration
KW - Native-born israelis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=56149104572&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2008.01661.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2008.01661.x
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C2 - 18384451
AN - SCOPUS:56149104572
SN - 0105-4538
VL - 63
SP - 1040
EP - 1045
JO - Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
JF - Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
IS - 8
ER -