Prevalence and Risk Factors of Allergies in Turkey (PARFAIT): results of a multicentre cross-sectional study in adults

Abstract

The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Allergies in Turkey (PARFAIT) study was planned to evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for asthma and allergic diseases in Turkey.The present analysis used data from 25,843 parents of primary school children, obtained from a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.A total of 25,843 questionnaires from 14 centres were evaluated. In rural areas, the prevalences asthma, wheezing, allergic rhinitis and eczema in males were: 8.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 7.9-9.1%), 13.5% (95% CI 12.8-14.2%), 17.5% (95% CI 16.7-18.2%) and 10.8% (95% CI 10.2-11.4%), respectively; and in females were: 11.2% (95% CI 10.9-11.8%), 14.7% (95% CI 14.3-15.1%), 21.2% (95% CI 20.4-22.0%) and 13.1% (95% CI 12.4-13.8%), respectively. In urban areas, the corresponding prevalences in males were: 6.2% (95% CI 5.8-6.6%), 10.8% (95% CI 10.3-11.3%), 11.7% (95% CI 11.4-12.0%) and 6.6% (95% CI 6.2-7.0%), respectively; and in females were: 7.5 % (95% CI 7.9-7.1%), 12.0% (95% CI 11.7-12.3%), 17.0% (95% CI 16.4-17.6%) and 7.3% (95% CI 6.9-7.7%), respectively. Having an atopic first-degree relative or any other atopic diseases had significant effects on the prevalence of allergic diseases. Housing conditions, such as living in a shanty-type house, visible moulds at home and use of wood or biomass as heating or cooking material were associated with one or more allergic diseases.Although genetic susceptibility is strongly associated, country-and population-based environmental factors may contribute to increased prevalence rates of allergic diseases.

The Prevalence of Allergic Diseases and Associated Risk Factors in School-Age Children and Adults in Erzurum, Turkey

“…On the other hand, the risk factors for allergic rhinitis were found to be a family history of allergy, living in a shanty and humid house, and smoking [5], and for atopic dermatitis, they were a family history of allergy; smoking; living in a shanty, garden, or detached house; having good economic conditions; and a high level of education [8,12]. In our study, that many well-known factors, like a family history of allergic diseases, were found to be insignificant in the risk analysis might have resulted from unreliable responses given to the questionnaire.…”

“…The incidence of these diseases is usually lower in underdeveloped regions but higher in industrialized countries [3]. Environmental factors, such as increased industrialization, air pollution, childhood infections, tobacco smoke, feeding habits, and allergens, affect the prevalence of asthma [4,5].…”

Variable prevalence of allergic rhinitis and risk factors affecting the prevalence

“…[84] Betonarme, izocamlı, santral ısıtmalı ve görü-nür şekilde küf bulunan evlerde yaşayanlarda risk artmaktadır. [11,36,85,86] Ev içinde fosil yakıt ve biyogaz kullanımı riski artırırken odun/kömürle ısınmanın genelde riski artırmadığı bildirilmiş-tir. [86,87] Aile ve anne-babanın sosyoekonomik düzeyi arttıkça risk artmakta, evde kardeş sayısı arttık-ça risk azalmaktadır.…”

“…[6][7][8][10][11][12][13]47,85] Sonuç olarak, son literatür verileri ışığında; AR prevalansının ülke ve bölgelere göre farklı bulunmasının, değişen genetik, diyet, yaşam tarzı ve çevresel nedenlere ilaveten bazı enfeksiyon ve spesifik hastalıkları geçirmeye bağlı olduğu görülmektedir. Dolayısıyla, etrafımızda değiştirebileceğimiz risk faktörlerinden ne kadar uzak durulabilir ve kaçınılırsa AR prevalansının o kadar azaltılabileceği düşünülebilir.…”

Fuzzy Approach of Group Sequential Test for Binomial Case

“…It is found that the asthma prevalence 6.6%. After that, Kurt [17] evaluated the prevalence of risk factors for asthma and allergic diseases in Turkey.…”