Being overweight and born in the spring are associated with an increased risk for rhinitis

Abstract

Aim: To explore the relationship between the season of birth and the prevalence of recurrent or chronic rhinitis (rhinitis).

Methods: The medical records of consecutive 17-year-old conscripts to the Israeli army were reviewed. We compared the prevalence of rhinitis between children born during different seasons. Multivariate analysis was performed with additional variables.

Results: The prevalence of rhinitis among the 1.1 million recruits was 7.1% in males and 5.3% in females. The association between birth season and the prevalence of rhinitis was highly significant (p < 0.001 for both genders). Spring was the birth season with the highest prevalence of rhinitis (7.4% in males and 5.5% in females). Males born in the winter and females born in the autumn had the lowest prevalence of rhinitis (6.7%, and 5.2% respectively). There was an increased odds ratio for rhinitis among those with a body mass index above 25, higher cognitive score and maternal birth country out of Israel or Africa.

Conclusions: There was an increased risk of rhinitis among young Israeli adults who were born in the spring, were overweight and had a higher cognitive-score. Family planning to avoid a spring birth and preventing overweight may reduce the risk of chronic rhinitis.

Keywords: birth country; birth season; cognition; overweight; rhinitis.