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Abstract
Background
Rhinitis was the most frequently diagnosed disorder among users of humidifier disinfectants (HDs). The aim of our study was to investigate on the relationship between allergic rhinitis (AR) and HD uses.
Methods
Our study used the data from the eighth Panel Study on Korean Children; a total of 1,540 participants were enrolled. The χ2 test and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to debunk the association between AR and HD uses.
Results
In our analysis, odds ratios (ORs) of doctor-diagnosed AR increased significantly when simply the response of whether HDs were used in the past was considered. When the brands of HD were considered, ORs of doctor-diagnosed AR were found to be increased significantly for those who have used polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate/oligo(2-[2-ethoxy]-ethoxyethyl)guanidinium-containing HDs (model 3: 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.95). However, once duration of usage was additionally considered, ORs of doctor-diagnosed AR increased significantly only for those who have used chloromethylisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone-containing HDs for more than or equal to 3 months (model 3: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.17–3.69). Further, past use of HD was associated with significantly increased ORs of AR diagnosed before 2013 (model 3: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.02–1.79).
References
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Fig. 1.
Flow chart of the selection of study subjects. PSKC: Panel Study on Korean Children; AR: allergic rhinitis; HD: humidifier disinfectant.
Table 1.
Socioeconomic characteristics of the subjects
Table 2.
Characteristics regarding allergic disorders and relevant environmental exposures of the subjects
Table 3.
Association between doctor-diagnosed AR and types and duration of HDs used
Table 4.
Crude and adjusted OR for doctor-diagnosed AR based on HD use in the past
| Characteristics | Category | Model 1 a | Model 2 b | Model 3 c | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR | 95% CI | OR | 95% CI | OR | 95% CI | ||
| Have ever used HD | No | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – |
| Yes | 1.43 | 1.14–1.79 | 1.42 | 1.12–1.82 | 1.33 | 1.02–1.75 | |
| Have used PHMG/PGH-containing HD | Have never used HD | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – |
| No, but have used other types of HDs | 1.12 | 0.80–1.57 | 1.20 | 0.83–1.73 | 1.22 | 0.81–1.82 | |
| Yes | 1.66 | 1.26–2.19 | 1.57 | 1.17–2.11 | 1.41 | 1.02–1.95 | |
| Have used CMIT/MIT-containing HD | Have never used HD | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – |
| No, but have used other types of HDs | 1.56 | 1.18–2.05 | 1.47 | 1.09–1.97 | 1.28 | 0.93–1.77 | |
| Yes | 1.24 | 0.89–1.73 | 1.36 | 0.95–1.95 | 1.43 | 0.96–2.13 | |
Table 5.
Crude and adjusted OR for doctor-diagnosed AR based on HD use in the past further stratified by duration
| Characteristics | Category | Model 1a | Model 2b | Model 3c | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR 1.00 | 95% CI | OR 1.00 | 95% CI | OR 1.00 | 95% CI | ||
| Have ever used HD | No | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – |
| Yes (less than 3 months) | 1.00 1.34 | −1.01–1.77 | 1.00 1.34 | −1.00–1.81 | 1.00 1.26 | −0.91–1.75 | |
| Yes (greater than or equal to 3 months) | 1.57 | 1.14–2.17 | 1.55 | 1.09–2.21 | 1.46 | 0.99–2.16 | |
| Have used PHMG/PGH-containing HD | Have never used HD | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – |
| No, but have used other types | 1.12 | 1.01–1.77 | 1.20 | 0.83–1.73 | 1.22 | 0.81–1.82 | |
| Yes (less than 3 months) | 1.60 | 1.14–2.17 | 1.52 | 1.05–2.20 | 1.39 | 0.92–2.32 | |
| Yes (greater than or equal to 3 months) | 1.74 | 1.18–2.58 | 1.66 | 1.08–2.54 | 1.45 | 0.90–2.33 | |
| Have used CMIT/MIT-containing HD | Have never used HD | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – |
| No, but have used other types | 1.00 1.56 | – 1.19–2.05 | 1.00 1.47 | – 1.09–1.97 | 1.00 1.28 | – 0.93–1.77 | |
| Yes (less than 3 months) | 1.56 1.00 | 1.19–2.05 0.64–1.56 | 1.47 1.04 | 1.09–1.97 0.64–1.69 | 1.28 1.04 | 0.93–1.77 0.61–1.76 | |
| Yes (greater than or equal to 3 months) | 1.59 | 0.99–2.56 | 1.83 | 1.09–3.06 | 2.08 | 1.17–3.69 | |
Table 6.
Crude and adjusted OR for doctor-diagnosed AR before 2011 and 2013 based on HD use in the past
| Characteristics | Category | Model 1a | Model 2b | Model 3c | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR | 95% CI | OR | 95% CI | OR | 95% CI | ||
| Diagnosed with AR before 2011 (the year when HDs were banned) | No | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – |
| Yes | 1.27 | 0.92–1.83 | 1.36 | 0.94–1.95 | 1.21 | 0.83–1.76 | |
| Diagnosed with AR before 2013 (risk period) | Yes | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – | 1.00 | – |
| No | 1.48 | 1.15–1.89 | 1.46 | 1.12–1.91 | 1.35 | 1.02–1.79 | |
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