INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS FOR ATOPIC DERMATITIS IN INFANTS: TAIWAN BIRTH COHORT STUDY (TBCS)

Abstract

ISEE-175 Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin disorder in children. In Taiwan, early life time environmental factors for the development of AD are unknown. Aim: Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the association between the early environmental factors and AD in infants at 6 months of age. Methods: Starting from the birth registry of year 2003, representative subjects were randomly recruited from 85 regions in Taiwan. The prevalence of AD was assessed by questionnaire administered to parents when infants were 6 months old. Questionnaires were also utilized to collect information about demographic data, environmental exposure, and health status. Odds ratios were used to analyse the effect of environmental factors for AD. Results: A total of 1,773 infants whose parents completed the questionnaire were included in the analysis. The prevalence of physician diagnostic AD was 6.7% in infants. By multivariate logistic regression adjusted for gender, birth order, delivery methods, breastfeeding, and parental education, maternal self-reported environmental pollution, pets at home, carpets at home, maternal environmental tobacco smoking exposure, and incense burning were not associated with AD. On the other hand, fungi on walls was a significant risk factor for AD [OR (95%CI) = 2.39 (1.52–3.74)]. Conclusion: Our study found that early exposure to fungi at home may contribute to the development of AD in infants at 6 months of age.