Migration and atopic disorder in Swedish conscripts.
We have studied asthma and allergic rhinitis prevalence in Swedish conscripts born 1973-1977 according to the military service conscription register in relation to the socio-economic status and country of birth of the conscripts and their parents, and age when granted residency in Sweden. There was an increase in prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis over time in all groups irrespective of country of birth or ethnic origin. Conscripts who themselves were born in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Mediterranean had a significantly lower risk for asthma and allergic rhinitis than Swedish-born conscripts. The risk of atopic disorder among the foreign-born conscripts increased with time of residency in Sweden. Conscripts with mothers from Latin America, Asia and Africa were identified as having the highest risk for atopic disorder among Swedish-born conscripts with high socio-economic status; the adjusted risk ratio (RR) for asthma was 2.6 (95% CI 1.7-4.0) and that for allergic rhinitis was 2.0 (1.5-2.6). The conscripts with mothers from the Mediterranean had the lowest risk for atopic disorders of the Swedish-born conscripts with low socio-economic status; the RR for asthma was 0.43 (0.34-0.56) and that for allergic rhinitis was 0.84 (0.76-0.93). This study demonstrates that factors related to migration and ethnicity are important determinants of atopic disorder among Swedish conscripts.
Hjern
A
A
Department of Clinical Sciences, Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, and Center for Epidemiology, Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, Stockholm. anders.hjern@sos.se
Rasmussen
F
F
Johansson
M
M
Aberg
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D007843:Latin America / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D015995:Prevalence; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors