Effects of age, breast feeding, and household structure on Haemophilus influenzae type b disease risk and antibody acquisition in Alaskan Eskimos

Am J Epidemiol. 1991 Nov 15;134(10):1212-21. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116024.

Abstract

Invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease occurs with unusually high incidence in Alaskan Eskimos. In 1983, the authors evaluated the unique susceptibility of the Yupik-speaking Eskimo population in southwest Alaska. A matched case-control design was used to assess the influence of age, breast feeding, and household composition on disease risk, with a historical cohort design to evaluate their effects on acquisition of Hib anticapsular antibody. The authors studied 103 cases with known invasive Hib disease that occurred at a mean age of 8.7 +/- 8.6 months; healthy controls were matched for age and village of residence. Living in extended families at the time of disease onset was significantly associated with Hib disease (p less than 0.04; odds ratio = 1.8; 95% confidence interval 0.87-3.25). The authors found that breast feeding was significantly less common among cases than controls (p less than 0.03; odds ratio = 0.53; 95% confidence interval 0.27-0.98). Although there was a positive correlation between age and acquired level of total anticapsular antibody (r = 0.59; p less than 0.0001), previous exposure to invasive Hib disease did not influence these levels. Household crowding and breast feeding also did not appear to affect Hib antibody acquisition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Alaska / epidemiology
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis*
  • Breast Feeding*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cohort Studies
  • Family Characteristics*
  • Female
  • Haemophilus Infections / blood
  • Haemophilus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Haemophilus influenzae*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Inuit*
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial