Lower prevalence of asthma and atopy in Turkish children living in Germany

Ethnic origin has been reported to affect the prevalence of atopic diseases in several studies in different parts of the world. However, little is known about the prevalence of asthma and atopy in immigrants living in Europe. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of asthma and atopy in Turkish children living in Germany and to investigate the role of ethnic origin on the development of asthma and atopy in this population. In a cross-sectional survey the prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma, atopy, skin-prick tests and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to cold dry air challenge was assessed in 7,445 school children aged 9-11 yrs, living in Munich, south Germany. Questionnaires were distributed to the parents for self-completion and children underwent skin prick tests and cold air hyperventilation challenge. The Turkish children showed a significantly lower prevalence of asthma (5.3 versus 9.4%, p<0.05) than their German peers. Furthermore, atopy, as assessed by skin prick tests (24.7 versus 36.7%, p<0.001) and BHR (3.9 versus 7.7%, p<0.001), was less common in Turkish children. In multivariate regression models controlling for potential explanatory factors, Turkish origin still showed a significantly lower risk of developing asthma, atopic sensitization and BHR. The prevalence of childhood asthma was therefore shown to be lower in Turkish children living in Germany than in Turkey. These findings suggest that the lower prevalence of asthma and allergy in Turkish children living in Germany might be attributable to a selection bias affecting the parents of these children, as healthy individuals may have decided to come to Germany for work.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J Genuneit, G Weinmayr, K Radon, H Dressel, D Windstetter, P Rzehak, C Vogelberg, W Leupold, D Nowak, E von Mutius, et al. Smoking and the incidence of asthma during adolescence: results of a large cohort study in Germany Thorax, July 1, 2006; 61(7): 572 - 578. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I K Zollner, S K Weiland, I Piechotowski, T Gabrio, E von Mutius, B Link, G Pfaff, B Kouros, and J Wuthe No increase in the prevalence of asthma, allergies, and atopic sensitisation among children in Germany: 1992-2001 Thorax, July 1, 2005; 60(7): 545 - 548. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Nicolai, D. Carr, S.K. Weiland, H. Duhme, O. von Ehrenstein, C. Wagner, and E. von Mutius Urban traffic and pollutant exposure related to respiratory outcomes and atopy in a large sample of children Eur. Respir. J., June 1, 2003; 21(6): 956 - 963. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L P Koopman, A Wijga, H A Smit, J C de Jongste, M Kerkhof, J Gerritsen, A P H Vos, R T van Strien, B Brunekreef, and H J Neijens Early respiratory and skin symptoms in relation to ethnic background: the importance of socioeconomic status; the PIAMA study Arch. Dis. Child., December 1, 2002; 87(6): 482 - 488. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Braun-Fahrlander, J. Riedler, U. Herz, W. Eder, M. Waser, L. Grize, S. Maisch, D. Carr, F. Gerlach, A. Bufe, et al. Environmental Exposure to Endotoxin and Its Relation to Asthma in School-Age Children N. Engl. J. Med., September 19, 2002; 347(12): 869 - 877. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A.F. Kalyoncu Symptoms of asthma, bronchial responsiveness and atopy in immigrants and emigrants in Europe Eur. Respir. J., May 1, 2002; 19(5): 980 - 983. [Full Text] [PDF]