title: Prevalence and risk factors of allergies in Turkey: Results of a multicentric cross-sectional study in children.
abstract: The Prevalence And Risk Factors of Allergies in Turkey (PARFAIT) study was planned to evaluate prevalence and risk factors of asthma and allergic diseases and also to find out which geographical variables and/or climatic conditions play a role determining the prevalence of allergic diseases in Turkish school children. Study was planned as cross-sectional questionnaire-based. About 25,843 questionnaires from 14 centers were appropriate for analysis. Parental history of allergy, having an atopic sibling and other atopic disease in index case was significant risk factors for all allergic diseases. Breast feeding decreased the risk of current asthma (OR: 0.92, CI: 0.86-0.99) and wheezing (OR: 0.93, CI: 0.87-0.99) but not allergic rhinitis and eczema. Respiratory infection in the past was an important risk factor for the occurrence of allergic diseases especially for asthma which was increased 4.53-fold. Children exposed to household smoke were significantly at higher risk of asthma, wheezing, and allergic rhinitis (OR: 1.20, CI: 1.08-1.33; OR: 1.21, CI: 1.09-1.34; and OR: 1.32, CI: 1.21-1.43, respectively). All allergic diseases were increased in those children living in areas which have altitude of below 1000 m and mean yearly atmospheric pressure above 1000 mb. The study has suggested that household and country-specific environmental factors are associated with asthma, wheezing, allergic rhinitis, and eczema risk during childhood in Turkey.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Diseases Department, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey. dremelkurt@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Emel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Metintas
authors.forename: Ilknur
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Basyigit
authors.forename: Ismet
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bulut
authors.forename: Evsen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: Sennur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dabak
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deveci
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fidan
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaynar
authors.forename: Esra Kunt
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Uzaslan
authors.forename: Kevser
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Onbasi
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozkurt
authors.forename: Gulden
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasaoglu
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahan
authors.forename: Unal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Kivilcim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oguzulgen
authors.forename: Fusun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Dilsad
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mungan
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yorgancioglu
authors.forename: Bilun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gemicioglu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fuat Kalyoncu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002980:Climate; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology