title: Atopy as a risk factor for the development of asthma in young recruits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases globally. Atopy, and especially allergic rhinitis (AR), was found as an important risk factor for asthma. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between different atopic parameters and military professions to the incidence of asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective study, we included 128 591 Israel Defense Forces soldiers drafted between the mid-nineties to the early-2000s. We examined the incidence rates of asthma in relation to atopic background and to military profession.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relative risk (RR) for the development of asthma in persons with a history of AR and the RR for asthma in atopics vs. nonatopics was 1.86 (95% CI: 1.57-2.21) and 1.73 (95% CI: 1.47-2.04), respectively. The RR for the development of asthma in persons with a history of AR was higher in Combat Units (CU) and Administrative and Driving units (ADU) (RR = 2.80; 95% CI: 2.09-3.76 and RR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.19-2.12, respectively) than in Maintenance Units (MU) (RR = 1.27; 95% CI: 0.93-1.74). When comparing the risk for asthma amongst persons with AR, we found it lower in MU compared to ADU (RR = 0.65; 95% CI: 0.43-0.97). In atopics vs. non-atopics, the risk for asthma was higher in ADU as compared to other occupations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atopy, particularly AR, is a risk factor for the development of new-onset asthma in young adults. Atopy has the highest significant effect in CU where the physical demands are higher.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel .
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moshe
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Slodownik
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yagev
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tavor
authors.forename: Arnon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afek
authors.forename: Oren
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zack
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Environmental development; epidemiology; pathophysiology; rhinitis/sinusitis