Environmental and individual factors associated with protection and predisposition to autoimmune diseases

Authors

  • Dilceu Silveira Tolentino Júnior Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys

Keywords:

Autoimmune diseases, behavioral factors, biological agents, chemical agents, dietary agents, environmental factors, molecular mimicry

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to correlate possible predisposing and protective factors involved with autoimmune diseases (ADs) in a Brazilian microregion.

Methods: This case-control study recorded 362 cases of ADs prevalent in the Águas Formosas microregion, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, between January and December 2016, through the application of a questionnaire. Overall, 724 controls were randomly selected according to gender and age. Logistic regression was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (OR), confidence interval, and P-value to compare the strength of association between the variables of interest assessed.

Results: Individuals with Graves’ disease (OR: 11.9977), followed by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, lupus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), and vitiligo, were strongly associated with the risk of developing the disease after the hepatitis B vaccine. Having consumed cow milk before 6 months of life was a factor associated only with psoriasis (OR: 0.3321) and RA (OR: 0.2880). Type 1 diabetes patients were associated only with surgical procedures (OR: 0.1160), just as physical and psychological traumas were associated only with vitiligo (OR: 5.9848). Contact with chemicals was more related to vitiligo (OR: 0.7142), RA, psoriasis, lupus, and thyroiditis. Physical exercise was the most significant protective factor for vitiligo (OR: 0.4904), followed by HT, RA, psoriasis, and lupus; and the consumption of filtered water with candles was a protective factor for vitiligo (OR: 0.3325).

Conclusion: The associations suggest that predisposing and protective factors for ADs play a pivotal role in their onset, enabling health management, control, and intervention of this population.

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Published

2020-11-01

How to Cite

Júnior, D. S. T. (2020). Environmental and individual factors associated with protection and predisposition to autoimmune diseases. International Journal of Health Sciences, 14(6), 13–23. Retrieved from https://pub.qu.edu.sa/index.php/journal/article/view/5279

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 6 (2020): Nov-Dec

Section

Original Paper

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