Gender-specific presentations for asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in primary care

Mustafa Osman*, Anna L. Hansell, Colin R. Simpson, Jennifer Hollowell, Peter J. Helms

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

101 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aim: To identify age- and gender-specific prevalence rates for physician-diagnosed asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR) and eczema across a whole lifespan. Method: Presentations of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema were identified in individuals aged 0 to 65 who consulted their general practitioner at least once in 1998-99 from a population sample of 266,733 in Scotland, and in 1991-95 for asthma and allergic rhinitis in 6,836,063 person years at risk in England and Wales. Results: In both sexes asthma presentations peak at 4-6 years whilst eczema peaks in infancy. A second asthma peak occurs during adolescence, earlier in females, at a time when a female predominance for all three atopic diseases is established. Female predominance of eczema presentations are limited to the reproductive period of 15-49 years. Conclusion: The patterns of presentations for asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema by age and gender suggest important gender-specific differences in disease predisposition and diagnosis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)28-35
Number of pages8
JournalPrimary Care Respiratory Journal
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Asthma
  • Eczema
  • Epidemiology
  • Gender
  • Sex

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Gender-specific presentations for asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in primary care'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this