Paternal snus use in puberty and increased risk for asthma and allergies in offspring: a RHINE/RHINESSA two-generation study

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that a father's smoking in puberty may adversely impact respiratory health in offspring, possibly through epigenetic changes in germ cells. This study investigates whether snus use starting in or after puberty influences respiratory health in future offspring. METHODS: We analysed Swedish data from RHINE (Respiratory Health in Northern Europe) parents and RHINESSA (Respiratory Health in Northern Europe, Spain and Australia) offspring by using mixed-effect logistic regression to assess the links between paternal snus initiation around puberty and offspring asthma, chronic bronchitis, rhinitis, and eczema, adjusting for paternal and offspring smoking. RESULTS: We identified 1090 offspring-father pairs. The offspring's median age was 29 years (17-51) and 55% were women. The maternal line (n = 1421) was not analysed, as