title: Pet- and pollen-induced upper airway symptoms in farmers and in nonfarmers.
abstract: The effect of farming on the risk of upper airway symptoms is not clear. In this cross-sectional, population-based study, 198 female farmers, 50 nonfarmers living on a farm, and 218 nonfarmers not living on a farm, filled in a symptom questionnaire and underwent skin-prick testing with common and agricultural allergens. In the logistic regression analysis, the latter group served as a control. Several adjustments were made, including childhood farming environment. Current farming was found to decrease the risks of pet- and pollen-induced upper airway symptoms, dose-dependently with the intensity and duration of animal husbandry. Including skin-test positivity to pets in the regression models did not affect the negative association between farming and pet-induced symptoms. In contrast, animal husbandry increased the risk of farm work-induced upper airway symptoms. Animal husbandry often induces work-related upper airway symptoms. However, the present study among female adults suggests that it may also decrease the risk of pet- and pollen-induced upper airway symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland. heikki.koskela@kuh.fi
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Koskela
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Iivanainen
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Remes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pekkanen
mesh_terms: D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires