Association between allergic disease, sleep-disordered breathing, and childhood nocturnal enuresis: a population-based case-control study

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the associations between allergic disease, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), and childhood nocturnal enuresis (NE). We examined whether allergic disease and SDB were associated with childhood NE.

Methods: Data were assessed from the 2007-2012 Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. We enrolled 4308 children aged 5-18 years having NE diagnosis and age- and sex-matched 4308 children as the control group. The odds ratios of NE were calculated to determine an association with preexisting allergic disease and SDB.

Results: A total of 8616 children were included in the analysis. Prevalence of allergic diseases and SDB was significantly higher for the NE group than the control group (all p < 0.001). After adjusting odds ratios for potential confounding factors, except asthma, children with allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) had significantly higher odds of NE compared with children never diagnosed. With stratification for sex, girls with allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, OSA, and snoring had significantly higher odds of NE, compared with girls never diagnosed. Only boys with allergic rhinitis and OSA were associated with increased odds of NE. With stratification for age, children aged 5-12 years with allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and OSA had significantly higher odds of NE compared with those never diagnosed. Odds of NE increased with the number of comorbid allergic diseases.

Conclusions: Allergic diseases and SDB are associated with increased odds of childhood NE. The odds of NE increased with the number of comorbid allergic diseases present.

Keywords: Allergic conjunctivitis; Allergic disease; Allergic rhinitis; Atopic dermatitis; Children; Nocturnal enuresis; Sleep-disordered breathing.