Longitudinal Analysis Of The Associations Between Environmental Risk Factors And Atopic Dermatitis In Children

Abstract

Introduction The objective of this study was to investigate whether exposure to environmental risk factors during prenatal to 12-month after postnatal is associated with diagnosis of atopic dermatitis during 6-month to 24-month after postnatal using Cohort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and allergic diseases (COCOA) data. Methods Cocoa data was repeatedly measured data by 3 times (6, 12, 24 moths). We used 7 variables as confounders (ex. age and BMI) which were measured subject's mother when prenatal period and also used environmental toxic matters (ex. indoor–outdoor atmosphere, air pollutants, etc) as interesting variables. By using the Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM), we could estimate the significant results considering correlation between observations. Results In order to use GLMM, we did chi-square test to detect an independence pattern of missing. From this test, we could find strong relationship between missing and people who didn't have atopic dermatitis. Therefore in order to consider dependent missing pattern, we decided to use GLMM. After analyzing 53 environmental factors, we could find the living in detached house, using a mosquitocide, taking in eggs frequently, concentration of outside PM10 and having pets showed significant associations with atopic dermatitis. Discussion Children who lives in detached house were regarded as one who exposed to higher outside chemicals concentrations. Also, their social economic status and education level are lower than the others. The results of this study indicate that among children who lives in detached house or were exposed higher inside PM10 concentration, their diagnosis of atopic dermatitis was more likely to occur. Also this study suggested a possible relationship between using mosquitocide, having pets and having high egg intake frequency and diagnosis of atopic dermatitis in children during 6-month to 24-month after postnatal.