Farm living protects from allergic rhinitis from childhood to early adulthood

Published: June 28, 2022

Growing up on a farm is associated with a reduced prevalence of respiratory allergies in childhood. Whether this protective effect remains into adulthood is unknown.

Strieker et al. aimed to prospectively investigate the relationship between farm exposure and prevalence of allergic rhinitis and wheeze from childhood to early adulthood. The authors invited participants from phase 2 of the GABRIEL Study who were living in southern Germany (aged 6-11 years at baseline and 20-25 years at follow-up) to complete a questionnaire on sociodemographic data, farm contact, respiratory symptoms, and potential confounders. Results were published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI). Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were modeled by using generalized estimating equations

Of the 2276 phase 2 participants, 1501 (66%) answered the follow-up questionnaire, of whom 1333 could be included in the analyses using generalized estimating equations. Living on a farm was associated with reduced prevalence of allergic rhinitis for those constantly living on a farm as well as for those who lived on a farm during childhood only. Irrespective of farm living the development of symptoms from baseline to follow-up increased threefold. For symptoms of wheeze, no statistically significant association with farm living was observed.

The protective effect of farm living on allergic rhinitis persists from childhood to early adulthood. Continuing exposure over puberty does not add to the effect. This confirms that the window of opportunity for a protective effect might be found in childhood.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) is an official scientific journal of the AAAAI, and is the most-cited journal in the field of allergy and clinical immunology.

Full Article