Prenatal and lifetime exposure to residential dampness and molds and the occurrence of respiratory tract infections in the first 12 years of life

<bold>Background:</bold> We assessed the relations between respidential dampness and mold and the occurrence of upper and lower respiratory tract infections (URTI and LRTI). <bold>Methods:</bold> We studied the 2,568 members of the Espoo Cohort Study, born between 1984 and 1990, and living in the City of Espoo, Finland. We assessed parental reports of residential exposure to water damage, moisture on the surfaces, visible mold, mold odor and any exposure and incidence rates (IR) of URTI and LRTI up to 12 years of age. We estimated adjusted incidence rate differences (IRD) and ratios (IRR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) and applied Poisson regression to adjust for potential confounding. <bold>Results:</bold> IRs of both URTIs and LRTI were higher in individuals exposed to any exposure indicator during any of the six time periods (pregnancy, 0-1,1-3,4-6,7-9,10-12 yrs). Table 1 shows that IR of URTI increased by 10% per the number of exposed time periods (Adj IRR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06, 1.15) and LRTI increased by 31% (Adj IRR 1.31, 95% CI 1.13, 1.53). <bold>Conclusions:</bold> The occurrence of respiratory tract infection is related to both presence and duration of exposure to residential dampness and molds. <bold>Table 1.</bold> Adjusted incidence rate ratios of URTIs and LTRIs per 1 exposed time period. <table-wrap><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA470/TB1</object-id><object-id>T1</object-id><object-id>TB1</object-id><table><colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td></td><td><bold>URTI</bold></td><td><bold>LRTI</bold></td></tr><tr><td><bold>Cumulative exposure, range 0-6</bold></td><td><bold>Adjusted IRR¹ (95% CI)</bold></td><td><bold>Adjusted IRR¹ (95% CI)</bold></td></tr><tr><td>Any exposure</td><td>1.10 (1.06, 1.15)</td><td>1.31 (1.13, 1.51)</td></tr><tr><td>Water damage</td><td>1.06 (0.96, 1.15)</td><td>1.21 (0.79, 1.86)</td></tr><tr><td>Dampness</td><td>1.10 (1.05, 1.15)</td><td>1.31 (1.11, 1.56)</td></tr><tr><td>Visible mold</td><td>1.09 (1.02, 1.16)</td><td>1.31 (1.00, 1.72)</td></tr><tr><td>Mold odor</td><td>1.12 (1.04, 1.20)</td><td>1.36 (1.03, 1.78)</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap> ¹Adjusted for sex, SES, tobacco smoke, breastfeeding and parental atopy