title: Association between obesity and atopic disorders in Chinese adults: an individually matched case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is regarded as a potential risk factor for atopy. The aim of this study was to assess the associations of obesity with atopic dermatitis, rhinitis, asthma and food allergy in Chinese adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and sixty six (266) atopic cases in Harbin, China, were identified according to the current Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis of atopic diseases. All cases had a previous diagnosis of atopic disorders (atopic dermatitis, rhinitis, asthma or food allergy) and were positive in one or more allergen specific IgE tests to 16 common allergens in the region. Each case was individually matched to two healthy controls based on their age, sex, and residential regions. All 532 healthy controls were negative in allergen specific IgE tests. The associations of obesity with four atopic disorders were assessed using a conditional logistic regression method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obesity was significantly associated with the presence of atopic diseases (OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.8, 5.7). Males and females had a similar association (OR = 3.1 for males and 3.2 for females). The associations of obesity with atopic dermatitis (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.2, 6.3) and atopic rhinitis (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.1, 8.7) were statistically significant. Although obesity was positively associated with atopic asthma, this association was not statistically significant (OR = 3.4, 95% CI: 0.6, 19.9). The association between obesity and food allergy was weak and not significant (OR = 1.1, 95% CI: 0.4, 3.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity is positively associated with the presence of atopic diseases in Chinese adults. Specifically, obesity is significantly associated with atopic dermatitis and rhinitis. Our findings warrant further investigation on the causal nature between obesity and atopic diseases and the effect of weight reduction on preventing atopic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Haerbin City, Heilongjiang Province Postcode 150081, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Fuwen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Jianing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suo
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Meina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors