Third Follow-Up of the Study on Occupational Allergy Risks (SOLAR III) in Germany: Design, Methods, and Initial Data Analysis

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Felix Forster - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) - Partner site Munich (Author)
  • Sylvia Kreißl - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Laura Wengenroth - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) - Partner site Munich (Author)
  • Christian Vogelberg - , Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Erika von Mutius - , German Center for Lung Research (DZL) - Partner site Munich, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Bianca Schaub - , German Center for Lung Research (DZL) - Partner site Munich, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Dennis Nowak - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) - Partner site Munich (Author)
  • Tobias Weinmann - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) - Partner site Munich (Author)
  • Katja Radon - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) - Partner site Munich (Author)
  • Jessica Gerlich - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) - Partner site Munich (Author)

Abstract

Introduction: Asthma and allergies are complex diseases affected by genetic and environmental factors, such as occupational and psychosocial factors, as well as interactions between them. Although childhood is a critical phase in the development of asthma and allergies, few cohort studies on occupational outcomes followed up participants from childhood onwards. We present design, methods, and initial data analysis for the third follow-up of SOLAR (Study on Occupational Allergy Risks), a prospective and population-based German asthma and allergy cohort. Methods: The SOLAR cohort was initially recruited in 1995–1996 for Phase II of the German branch of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC II) and followed up three times since, in 2002–2003, 2007–2009, and 2017–2018. During the third follow-up (SOLAR III), participants were between 29 and 34 years old. Since SOLAR focuses on occupational exposures, follow-ups were conducted at important points in time of the development of participants' career. To evaluate the potential of selection bias, responders and non-responders were compared based on variables from earlier study phases. In responders, frequency and pattern of missing values were examined and compared within the subsets of paper and online versions of the used questionnaires. Results: In total, 1,359 participants completed the questionnaire of the third follow-up (47.3% of eligible participants). Initially, the cohort started with 6,399 participants from the ISAAC II questionnaire study. A selection process led to a study population that is more female, higher educated, smokes less and has a higher proportion of certain asthma and allergy symptoms (also in their parents) than the initial cohort. Pattern and frequency of missing values were different for paper and online questionnaires. Discussion: The third follow-up of the SOLAR cohort offers the opportunity to analyze the course of asthma and allergies and their associations to environmental, occupational and psychosocial risk factors over more than 20 years from childhood to adulthood. Selection processes within the cohort might lead to bias that needs to be considered in future analyses.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number591717
JournalFrontiers in Public Health
Volume9
Publication statusPublished - 4 Mar 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 33748056

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • asthma, atopic dermatitis, cohort study, epidemiological methods, occupational asthma, rhinitis