RESUMEN
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of air pollution in the dwelling place during childhood-adolescence on respiratory function in early adulthood. The study was conducted in 220 female and 160 male university undergraduates in the cities of Cracow and Wroclaw in Poland and consisted of spirometry to assess lung function. The subjects' exposure to pollution during childhood-adolescence was assessed from the data acquired by the Polish Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection. We found differences in all spirometry variables depending on benz[a]piren exposure, in FVC% and FEV1/%FVC depending on PM2.5 content, and in FVC% depending on NO2 content. Statistically significant differences in spirometry variables were also found in relation to the degree of urbanization of the place of living during the early life period in question. The higher the urbanization, the higher is FEV1% and FCV%, and the lower FEV1/%FVC. Additionally, undergraduates of Cracow University had worse lung function compared to those of Wroclaw University. In conclusion, air pollution in the dwelling place during childhood-adolescence has an impact on lung function in early adulthood, independently of the current exposure to pollutants.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos/efectos adversos , Contaminación del Aire/efectos adversos , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/efectos adversos , Adolescente , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Material Particulado , Polonia , Espirometría , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Until recently, most studies report an increasing prevalence of allergy and asthma. The research suggests that the increase may have to do with changes in lifestyle and living conditions. This study seeks to determine the prevalence and changes in allergic diseases in relation to socioeconomic status (SES) 6 years apart. The research material consisted of data collected in two cross-sectional surveys conducted among university female students in 2009 and 2015 (respectively, 702 and 1305 subjects). The surveys evaluated the incidence of allergic conditions and socio-economic status. The occurrence of allergy was determined on the basis of answers to the questions whether the allergy and specific allergens were defined on the basis of medical work-up. The prevalence of allergic diseases increased from 14.0% to 22.3% over a 6-year period. In both cohorts, allergic diseases were more prevalent among females with high SES than with low SES. In 2009, significant differences were noted in relation to urbanization of the place of living and the number of siblings. In 2015, all socioeconomics factors significantly bore on the prevalence of allergy.
Asunto(s)
Asma/epidemiología , Hipersensibilidad/epidemiología , Factores Socioeconómicos , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Polonia/epidemiología , Prevalencia , Autoinforme , Estudiantes , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , UniversidadesRESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to evaluate lung function in healthy young female university students and to seek the relation of lung function to socioeconomic and anthropometric indices. The methodology consisted of spirometry tests, anthropometric measures and a questionnaire conducted in November of 2015 among 152 female university students. At first, lung function was analyzed for any relationship with socioeconomic factors and smoking. The results of a multi-factor analysis of variance demonstrate significant differences in the FEV1/FVC ratio depending on the general socioeconomic status. Then, anthropometric and spirometric parameters were tested for correlations. A comparison of underweight, normal weigh, overweight, and obese subjects revealed statistically significant differences for FVC% and FEV1/FVC, with the highest values noted in the subjects of normal weight. Individuals with abdominal obesity had lower FVC% and FEV1% and a higher FEV1/FVC ratio. The findings of our study confirm that both general obesity and abdominal obesity are related to a reduced lung function.
Asunto(s)
Pulmón/fisiología , Adulto , Antropometría , Índice de Masa Corporal , Femenino , Encuestas Epidemiológicas , Humanos , Respiración , Factores de Riesgo , Factores Socioeconómicos , Estudiantes/estadística & datos numéricos , Universidades/economía , Universidades/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
The aim of this study is to investigate the association of allergic rhinitis in female university students with socio-economic factors and sex-hormone markers, including age at menarche, menstrual disorders, and selected anthropometrics indexes. The research was conducted among 640 female university students, aged 19-25 years. The measurements of body height, body mass, waist and hip circumference were taken. Each person completed a questionnaire. The occurrence of allergy was determined on the basis of answers to the questions whether the allergy and its allergens were defined on the basis of medical workup. We found that a significantly larger number of cases of allergic rhinitis were recorded in the university students coming from families of high socio-economic level than those from lower level. Allergic rhinitis also was more frequent in the students who spent their childhood in cities than in those who lived in the countryside. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was inversely correlated to the number of siblings. There were no differences in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in relation to the birth order. The estrogen level seemed unassociated with rhinitis. However, there were slightly more allergic among females with an earlier age of menarche.
Asunto(s)
Estrógenos/sangre , Rinitis Alérgica/sangre , Rinitis Alérgica/epidemiología , Factores Socioeconómicos , Estudiantes , Universidades , Adulto , Biomarcadores/sangre , Índice de Masa Corporal , Estudios Transversales , Composición Familiar , Femenino , Humanos , Menarquia , Obesidad/diagnóstico , Obesidad/epidemiología , Polonia/epidemiología , Prevalencia , Rinitis Alérgica/diagnóstico , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Relación Cintura-Cadera , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
The aim of the paper was to asses the relationship between socioeconomic status, the prevalence of allergy and physical development. The data were obtained from 478 female students and 195 male students aged 19-24. The prevalence of allergy in the group surveyed was 14.6% (14.6% in women and 14.4% in men). Allergic diseases were more frequent in students of high socioeconomic status. The results of the analysis of variance did not show any significant differences in anthropometric characteristics between students with and without allergies. However, women and men with allergies diagnosed are on average shorter than people without allergies. The dependency is also visible after adjusting for socioeconomic status. As for the equal status groups, the people with allergies are always shorter than those without allergies. Summarizing, the results of the tests presented indicate that allergic diseases may affect the growing process. However, upon providing appropriate conditions, the growth of children with allergy is not different from the control population.
Asunto(s)
Estatura , Índice de Masa Corporal , Hipersensibilidad/fisiopatología , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Hipersensibilidad/epidemiología , Masculino , Prevalencia , Factores SocioeconómicosRESUMEN
The purpose of this paper was to determine the correlation between socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and the prevalence of allergic diseases in children. It was also checked whether there were any differences in the biological development rate between the children with allergies and their peers. The study is based on the data obtained from a cross-sectional surveys of 301 children aged 4-9. The number of children with allergies found as declared by their parents was 58 (19.3%). The prevalence of allergic children in the villages was significantly lower than in towns (12.8% vs. 26.2%). The more frequent occurrence of allergies in children also depended on the level of their parents' education, very good economic conditions, artificial feeding during the first months of their lives and attending nurseries. The children with diagnosed allergies did not differ from their peers by height, but had a higher body weight.
Asunto(s)
Hipersensibilidad/epidemiología , Antropometría , Niño , Preescolar , Dieta , Ambiente , Familia , Femenino , Crecimiento/fisiología , Humanos , Hipersensibilidad/genética , Estilo de Vida , Masculino , Padres , Polonia/epidemiología , Factores de Riesgo , Población Rural , Fumar/epidemiología , Factores Socioeconómicos , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Contaminación por Humo de Tabaco/estadística & datos numéricos , Población UrbanaRESUMEN
The aim of the work was to assess the prevalence of underweight among young women and to analyse factors contributing to this phenomenon. The study group consisted of 718 female students aged 18-24 years. Underweight, overweight and obesity was classified according to BMI and WHO criteria. To assess the socio-economic status (SES), place of residence before entering the university and education of parents were used. Variables characterising lifestyle such as sports activity, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking were also taken into account. In the studied group, the prevalence of underweight was much higher than the prevalence of overweight and obesity (15.3% and 3.5%, respectively). Low BMI was more frequent among persons with higher SES. Moreover, it was noted that 70% of women having normal weight (BMI=18.50-24.99 kg/m2) wanted to have slimmer figure. No correlation was found between prevalence of very low body mass and lifestyle variables.
Asunto(s)
Sobrepeso/epidemiología , Delgadez/epidemiología , Adolescente , Adulto , Índice de Masa Corporal , Escolaridad , Femenino , Humanos , Estilo de Vida , Obesidad/epidemiología , Polonia/epidemiología , Prevalencia , Autoimagen , Factores Socioeconómicos , Estudiantes/psicologíaRESUMEN
Numerous studies indicate that a major health problem in children are illnesses of the respiratory system. Currently, increased attention is being paid to family social conditions and environmental factors in the pathogenesis of these illnesses. The aim of this study was to determine whether socioeconomic factors are related to child morbidity and whether the frequency of some infectious illnesses (influenza, angina, infections of upper and lower respiratory tract) among children is associated with their tempo of growth. The data came from a cross-sectional survey on 119 girls and 106 boys, aged 9-10 years, attending a primary school in Opole, Poland. In the present study, the rate of biological development was evaluated using height and height-to-weight proportion. Height and weight were measured and used to calculated BMI. The socioeconomic status and child morbidity were assessed, as based on the information giving by parents. To asses the socioeconomic status, the following factors were analyzed: education of parents and self-assessment of their material condition. Statistical analysis of the material were conducted using Chi-square test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicate that illnesses of the respiratory system are more frequent among children from families with a low socioeconomic status. Education of mother was most strongly related to the prevalence of these diseases. The prevalence of respiratory infections in the group of children whose mother have primary and vocational education was more than twice as common as that in the group of children whose mother have university education. No significant association was found between increased morbidity and the tempo of children's growth, but children who suffer from infectious diseases frequently are, on average, shorter and fatter than other children.