Parental lung function is associate with asthma and allergies in the offspring

Familial aggregation of asthma is well known, but little is known about the association between parental lung function and respiratory symptoms in offspring beyond early life. We studied asthma and allergic diseases in offspring, using data from the third follow-up of the Respiratory Health In Northern Europe (RHINE) study, as related to parental lung function, using data from ECRHS II. Lung function measurements were available for 1551 RHINE III participants (mean age 42 yrs, 44% men), with respiratory health data for 3590 offspring (mean age=23). Association between offspring asthmatic and allergic status and parental lung function was estimated with GEE logistic regression models adjusting for offspring age, and parental sex, age and sex interaction, squared height, smoking status and pack-years. Lower parental FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were associated with increased risk of asthma and hay fever in offspring; lower FEV1 and FVC were associated with a higher prevalence of offspring atopic eczema. View this table: Parental lung function parameters and asthma/allergy in the offspring (N=3537) Associations between FEV1/FVC and asthma after 10 years and hay fever were confirmed in non-asthmatics. Conclusion: Lower parental lung function was associated with a higher prevalence of asthma and allergies in the offspring.