High body mass index is not associated with atopy in schoolchildren living in rural and urban areas of Ghana
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Factors which determine the development of atopy and the observed rural-urban gradient in its prevalence are not fully understood. High body mass index (BMI) has been associated with asthma and potentially atopy in industrialized cou...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2011-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/469 |
| _version_ | 1818758633571221504 |
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| author | Obeng Benedicta B Amoah Abena S Klipstein-Grobusch Kerstin Larbi Irene A Wilson Michael D Yazdanbakhsh Maria Boakye Daniel A |
| author_facet | Obeng Benedicta B Amoah Abena S Klipstein-Grobusch Kerstin Larbi Irene A Wilson Michael D Yazdanbakhsh Maria Boakye Daniel A |
| author_sort | Obeng Benedicta B |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Factors which determine the development of atopy and the observed rural-urban gradient in its prevalence are not fully understood. High body mass index (BMI) has been associated with asthma and potentially atopy in industrialized countries. In developing countries, the transition from rural to urban areas has been associated with lifestyle changes and an increased prevalence of high BMI; however, the effect of high BMI on atopy remains unknown in this population. We therefore investigated the association between high BMI and atopy among schoolchildren living in rural and urban areas of Ghana.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data on skin prick testing, anthropometric, parasitological, demographic and lifestyle information for 1,482 schoolchildren aged 6-15 years was collected. Atopy was defined as sensitization to at least one tested allergen whilst the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta) growth reference charts were used in defining high BMI as BMI ≥ the 85<sup>th </sup>percentile. Logistic regression was performed to investigate the association between high BMI and atopy whilst adjusting for potential confounding factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The following prevalences were observed for high BMI [Rural: 16%, Urban: 10.8%, p < 0.001] and atopy [Rural: 25.1%, Urban: 17.8%, p < 0.001]. High BMI was not associated with atopy; but an inverse association was observed between underweight and atopy [OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.33-0.99]. Significant associations were also observed with male sex [Rural: OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.06-2.08; Urban: OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.30-2.79], and in the urban site with older age [OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.00-3.07], family history of asthma [OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.01-2.47] and occupational status of parent [OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.12-0.93]; whilst co-infection with intestinal parasites [OR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.01-6.04] was associated with atopy in the rural site. After multivariate adjustment, male sex, older age and family history of asthma remained significant.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In Ghanaian schoolchildren, high BMI was not associated with atopy. Further studies are warranted to clarify the relationship between body weight and atopy in children subjected to rapid life-style changes associated with urbanization of their environments.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T06:29:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-95fce0acddb54bf98f73d465f95efcbd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T06:29:56Z |
| publishDate | 2011-06-01 |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-95fce0acddb54bf98f73d465f95efcbd2022-12-21T21:17:56ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582011-06-0111146910.1186/1471-2458-11-469High body mass index is not associated with atopy in schoolchildren living in rural and urban areas of GhanaObeng Benedicta BAmoah Abena SKlipstein-Grobusch KerstinLarbi Irene AWilson Michael DYazdanbakhsh MariaBoakye Daniel A<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Factors which determine the development of atopy and the observed rural-urban gradient in its prevalence are not fully understood. High body mass index (BMI) has been associated with asthma and potentially atopy in industrialized countries. In developing countries, the transition from rural to urban areas has been associated with lifestyle changes and an increased prevalence of high BMI; however, the effect of high BMI on atopy remains unknown in this population. We therefore investigated the association between high BMI and atopy among schoolchildren living in rural and urban areas of Ghana.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data on skin prick testing, anthropometric, parasitological, demographic and lifestyle information for 1,482 schoolchildren aged 6-15 years was collected. Atopy was defined as sensitization to at least one tested allergen whilst the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta) growth reference charts were used in defining high BMI as BMI ≥ the 85<sup>th </sup>percentile. Logistic regression was performed to investigate the association between high BMI and atopy whilst adjusting for potential confounding factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The following prevalences were observed for high BMI [Rural: 16%, Urban: 10.8%, p < 0.001] and atopy [Rural: 25.1%, Urban: 17.8%, p < 0.001]. High BMI was not associated with atopy; but an inverse association was observed between underweight and atopy [OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.33-0.99]. Significant associations were also observed with male sex [Rural: OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.06-2.08; Urban: OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.30-2.79], and in the urban site with older age [OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.00-3.07], family history of asthma [OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.01-2.47] and occupational status of parent [OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.12-0.93]; whilst co-infection with intestinal parasites [OR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.01-6.04] was associated with atopy in the rural site. After multivariate adjustment, male sex, older age and family history of asthma remained significant.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In Ghanaian schoolchildren, high BMI was not associated with atopy. Further studies are warranted to clarify the relationship between body weight and atopy in children subjected to rapid life-style changes associated with urbanization of their environments.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/469 |
| spellingShingle | Obeng Benedicta B Amoah Abena S Klipstein-Grobusch Kerstin Larbi Irene A Wilson Michael D Yazdanbakhsh Maria Boakye Daniel A High body mass index is not associated with atopy in schoolchildren living in rural and urban areas of Ghana BMC Public Health |
| title | High body mass index is not associated with atopy in schoolchildren living in rural and urban areas of Ghana |
| title_full | High body mass index is not associated with atopy in schoolchildren living in rural and urban areas of Ghana |
| title_fullStr | High body mass index is not associated with atopy in schoolchildren living in rural and urban areas of Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | High body mass index is not associated with atopy in schoolchildren living in rural and urban areas of Ghana |
| title_short | High body mass index is not associated with atopy in schoolchildren living in rural and urban areas of Ghana |
| title_sort | high body mass index is not associated with atopy in schoolchildren living in rural and urban areas of ghana |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/469 |
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