Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health in Association with Harvard School of Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
BMC Public Health. 2011 Nov 11;11:858. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-858.
The prevalence of childhood asthma and allergies in Cyprus was significantly higher in urban compared to rural areas back in the year 2000, against a background of an overall low prevalence (e.g. current wheeze 6.9%) by comparison to northern European countries. In this study we aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of asthma and allergies in Cyprus after an 8-year interval and to examine whether any differential changes have occurred in urban and rural parts of the island.
During the academic years 1999-2000 and 2007-2008, the parents of 7-8 year old children residing in the same set of urban and rural areas completed the ISAAC core questionnaire. In addition to providing prevalence estimates of allergic diseases in 2000 and 2008, changes between the two periods were expressed as odds ratios estimated in multiple logistic regression models adjusting for survey participants' characteristics.
The prevalence of current wheeze was higher in 2008 (8.7%, 95% confidence interval 7.5%-9.9%, n = 2216) than the previously recorded figure in 2000 (6.9%, 95% CI 6.2%-7.6%, OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.02-1.53, n = 4944). Significant increases were also seen in the prevalence of lifetime asthma (11.3% vs. 17.4%, OR = 1.59, CI: 1.36-1.86), eczema (6.8% vs. 13.5%, OR = 1.91, CI: 1.59-2.29) and allergic rhinoconjuctivitis (2.6% vs. 5.2%, OR = 1.82, CI: 1.39-2.41). The prevalence of current wheeze nearly doubled between 2000 and 2008 in rural areas (5.4% vs. 9.7%, OR 1.81, CI: 1.24-2.64) while no significant change was observed in urban areas (7.5% vs. 8.4%, OR 1.08, CI: 0.84-1.37); p value for effect modification = 0.04. Rises in asthma and rhinitis prevalence, but not eczema were also more pronounced in rural compared to urban areas.
The prevalence of allergic diseases in Cyprus is still on the rise; recent increases appear more pronounced among children living in rural areas possibly indicating recent environmental and lifestyle changes in these communities.
2000 年，塞浦路斯的儿童哮喘和过敏患病率在城市明显高于农村，而与北欧国家相比，总体患病率较低（例如，当前喘息率为 6.9%）。在这项研究中，我们旨在评估塞浦路斯在 8 年时间间隔后哮喘和过敏的患病率的时间变化，并检查城市和农村地区是否发生了任何差异变化。
在 1999-2000 学年和 2007-2008 学年期间，居住在同一组城市和农村地区的 7-8 岁儿童的父母填写了 ISAAC 核心问卷。除了提供 2000 年和 2008 年过敏疾病的患病率估计值外，还使用多元逻辑回归模型中的比值比来表示两个时期之间的变化，该模型调整了调查参与者的特征。
2008 年当前喘息的患病率（8.7%，95%置信区间 7.5%-9.9%，n = 2216）高于 2000 年之前的记录数字（6.9%，95%CI 6.2%-7.6%，OR = 1.25，95%CI：1.02-1.53，n = 4944）。终身哮喘（11.3%比 17.4%，OR = 1.59，CI：1.36-1.86）、湿疹（6.8%比 13.5%，OR = 1.91，CI：1.59-2.29）和过敏性鼻结膜炎（2.6%比 5.2%，OR = 1.82，CI：1.39-2.41）的患病率也显著增加。2000 年至 2008 年期间，农村地区当前喘息的患病率几乎翻了一番（5.4%比 9.7%，OR 1.81，CI：1.24-2.64），而城市地区则没有明显变化（7.5%比 8.4%，OR 1.08，CI：0.84-1.37）；p 值为 0.04。农村地区哮喘和鼻炎患病率的上升更为明显，而湿疹则不然。
塞浦路斯过敏疾病的患病率仍在上升；最近的增长在农村地区的儿童中更为明显，这可能表明这些社区最近的环境和生活方式发生了变化。
