title: Farm environment during infancy and lung function at the age of 31: a prospective birth cohort study in Finland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Farming as an occupation is considered a risk factor for asthma and reduced lung function. By contrast, living on a farm during infancy has been reported to be associated with lower risk of asthma in adulthood. However, little is known about the association between farming environment during infancy and lung function in adulthood. We aimed to study the prospective longitudinal association between farming environment during infancy and lung function in adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective birth cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Northern Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  5666 participants born in 1966 were followed up at the age of 31 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spirometry at the age of 31 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To be born into a farmer's family was associated with higher forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (36 mL; 95% CI 6 to 67 mL) and forced vital capacity (FVC) (40 mL; 95% CI 5 to 75 mL) at the age of 31 years. Contact with farm animals during infancy was associated with higher FEV1. No associations were seen with FEV1/FVC (FEV1/FVC ratio). Having dogs in childhood revealed similar associations. There was a suggestive dose-dependent association with the number of animal species during childhood and higher FEV1 and FVC at adulthood, especially among women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Farming environment in early life may have a positive impact on lung function in adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Protection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lampi
authors.affiliation: Center for Medicine and Clinical Research, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koskela
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and MRC Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Anna-Liisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hartikainen
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC Health Protection Agency (HPA) Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Adaikalavan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramasamy
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC Health Protection Agency (HPA) Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Alexessander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Couto Alves
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC Health Protection Agency (HPA) Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland Unit of Primary Care, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland Department of Children and Young People and Families, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Marjo-Riitta
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Järvelin
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Protection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pekkanen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002415:Cats; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004285:Dogs; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D057805:Pets; D011446:Prospective Studies; D065840:Protective Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013147:Spirometry; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology
keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGY; OCCUPATIONAL & INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE; RESPIRATORY MEDICINE (see Thoracic Medicine)