Study reveals season of birth influences asthma risk in Finland

A study conducted by the University of Eastern Finland and the University of Helsinki has revealed that the season during which a person is born can influence the development of asthma and allergic rhinitis in Finland. The research found that individuals born in the summer are least likely to develop these conditions. When summer served as a reference period, there was a significant association between the season of birth and allergic rhinitis; being born in autumn or winter was linked to a higher incidence of asthma.

The study analyzed patient data from nearly 75,000 individuals within the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District. It utilized information on birth date, gender, visit dates, and related health conditions from between 2005 and 2019. Participants were categorized into four groups based on their birth season. In the group born during winter, 43.1% had asthma, while 41.1% of those born in summer had the condition.

In addition to asthma and allergic rhinitis, the study also examined the effect of birth season on chronic rhinosinusitis, as well as respiratory diseases exacerbated by anti-inflammatory medication. However, no statistically significant correlation was found for these conditions related to birth season, according to Professor Sanna Salmi from the University of Eastern Finland. Salmi suggested that this may indicate that the onset of these diseases is less dependent on early life events.

The study, published in Clinical and Translational Allergy, aimed to explore the relationship between birth season and various respiratory allergies and related diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, non-allergic rhinitis, and chronic rhinosinusitis. Further research involving larger populations is needed to confirm these findings.