title: Changes over time in the prevalence of asthma, rhinitis and atopic eczema in adolescents from Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil (2005-2012): Relationship with living near a heavily travelled highway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of allergic diseases is increasing. We evaluated temporal trends in the prevalence of asthma, rhinitis and eczema in adolescents (13-14 years) living in Taubaté, SP, Brazil (2005-2012) and assessed the relationship between these prevalences and the residential proximity to Presidente Dutra Highway (PDH, a heavily travelled highway).
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study of adolescents (N=1039) from public and private schools was evaluated using the standard questionnaire of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) plus a question about their place of residence in relation to PDH. The data obtained were compared to the 2005 data using a chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. An analysis by groups consisting of two phases (two-step cluster) was used to evaluate the effect of living near PDH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a lifetime increase in the prevalence of active asthma (15.3% vs. 20.4%, p=0.005) and physician-diagnosed asthma (6.8% vs. 9.2%, p=0.06) and a decrease in the symptoms of active rhinitis (36.6% vs. 18.5%) between 2005 and 2012. A high frequency of asthma and rhinitis (18.1% vs. 23.2%, respectively) was observed among adolescents living close or very close to PDH; furthermore, 85.6% of the adolescents without symptoms of asthma or rhinitis lived far from PDH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An increase in the prevalence of asthma and a decrease in the prevalence of rhinitis were observed during the studied period. Living near PDH was associated with higher rates of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Taubaté (UNITAU), Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: maristellatol@ig.com.br.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Toledo
authors.affiliation: Experimental Therapeutic Laboratory I (LIM 20), Department of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; University City of Sao Paulo (UNICID), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Saraiva-Romanholo
authors.affiliation: Experimental Air Pollution Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: P H N
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Saldiva
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: L F F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Taubaté (UNITAU), Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: L F C
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Escola Paulista de Medicina - Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Solé
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012574:Schools; D012924:Social Conditions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Air pollution; Allergy; Asthma; Heavy traffic; Highway; Residence