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BACKGROUND: Parental allergic diseases and smoking influence respiratory disease in the offspring but it is not known whether they influence fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in the offspring. We investigated whether parental allergic diseases, parental smoking and FeNO levels in parents were associated with FeNO levels in their offspring.

METHODS: We studied 609 offspring aged 16-47 years from the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe, Spain and Australia generation (RHINESSA) study with parental information from the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) III study and the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) III. Linear regression models were used to assess the association between offspring FeNO and parental FeNO, allergic rhinitis, asthma and smoking, while adjusting for potential confounding factors.

RESULTS: Parental allergic rhinitis was significantly associated with higher FeNO in the offspring, both on the paternal and maternal side (percent change: 20.3% [95%CI 5.0-37.7], p=0.008, and 13.8% [0.4-28.9], p=0.043, respectively). Parental allergic rhinitis with asthma in any parent was also significantly associated with higher offspring FeNO (16.2% [0.9-33.9], p=0.037). However, parental asthma alone and smoking were not associated with offspring FeNO. Parental FeNO was not associated with offspring FeNO after full adjustments for offspring and parental factors.

CONCLUSIONS: Parental allergic rhinitis but not parental asthma was associated with higher levels of FeNO in offspring. These findings suggest that parental allergic rhinitis status should be considered when interpreting FeNO levels in offspring beyond childhood.