TY - JOUR
T1 - Change in prevalence of IgE sensitization and mean total IgE with age and cohort
AU - Jarvis, Deborah
AU - Luczynska, Christina
AU - Chinn, Susan
AU - Potts, James
AU - Sunyer, Jordi
AU - Janson, Christer
AU - Svanes, Cecilie
AU - Künzli, Nino
AU - Leynaert, Bénédicte
AU - Heinrich, Joachim
AU - Kerkhof, Marjan
AU - Ackermann-Liebrich, Ursula
AU - Antó, Josep M.
AU - Cerveri, Isa
AU - De Marco, Roberto
AU - Gislason, Thorarinn
AU - Neukirch, Françoise
AU - Vermeire, Paul
AU - Wjst, Matthias
AU - Burney, Peter
PY - 2005/9
Y1 - 2005/9
N2 - Background: Cross-sectional studies show that the prevalence of IgE sensitization is lower in older age groups than younger age groups. This could reflect either a decrease in sensitization with aging or a higher prevalence of sensitization in more recent birth cohorts. Objective: To assess change in IgE sensitization and mean total IgE in young adults as they age. Serum specific IgE to common allergens and total IgE were measured on 2 occasions about 9 years apart in 6371 young adults living in 28 centers, mainly in Western Europe, who took part in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II. Outcomes were analyzed by using generalized estimating equations, and adjustments were made for differences between laboratory measures on the 2 occasions. Results: Overall, there was no net change in the prevalence of sensitization to at least 1 of house dust mite, grass, or cat (net change per 10 years of follow-up, -0.1%; 95% CI, -1.7% to 1.5%), although there was a fall in mean total IgE (ratio of geometric mean total IgE, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.79 to 0.93). There was evidence that sensitization to at least 1 allergen was higher in more recent cohorts, and this was largely explained by a higher prevalence of sensitization to grass. Conclusion: The disease burden associated with IgE sensitization in adults, and particularly with IgE sensitization to grass, is likely to continue to increase for some time despite current evidence that the increase in allergy seen in children may have ceased.
AB - Background: Cross-sectional studies show that the prevalence of IgE sensitization is lower in older age groups than younger age groups. This could reflect either a decrease in sensitization with aging or a higher prevalence of sensitization in more recent birth cohorts. Objective: To assess change in IgE sensitization and mean total IgE in young adults as they age. Serum specific IgE to common allergens and total IgE were measured on 2 occasions about 9 years apart in 6371 young adults living in 28 centers, mainly in Western Europe, who took part in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II. Outcomes were analyzed by using generalized estimating equations, and adjustments were made for differences between laboratory measures on the 2 occasions. Results: Overall, there was no net change in the prevalence of sensitization to at least 1 of house dust mite, grass, or cat (net change per 10 years of follow-up, -0.1%; 95% CI, -1.7% to 1.5%), although there was a fall in mean total IgE (ratio of geometric mean total IgE, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.79 to 0.93). There was evidence that sensitization to at least 1 allergen was higher in more recent cohorts, and this was largely explained by a higher prevalence of sensitization to grass. Conclusion: The disease burden associated with IgE sensitization in adults, and particularly with IgE sensitization to grass, is likely to continue to increase for some time despite current evidence that the increase in allergy seen in children may have ceased.
KW - Atopy
KW - Cohort
KW - ECRHS
KW - Total IgE
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=24644464399&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jaci.2005.05.009
DO - 10.1016/j.jaci.2005.05.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 16159642
AN - SCOPUS:24644464399
SN - 0091-6749
VL - 116
SP - 675
EP - 682
JO - Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
JF - Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
IS - 3
ER -