Journal List > Allergy Asthma Immunol Res > v.9(4) > 1094424

TOOLS
Park, Kim, Yoon, Lee, Chang, Lim, Park, and Lee: Prevalence of Self-reported Allergic Diseases and IgE Levels: A 2010 KNHANES Analysis
Original Article

Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research 2017; 9(4): 329-339.

Published online: 24 April 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2017.9.4.329

Prevalence of Self-reported Allergic Diseases and IgE Levels: A 2010 KNHANES Analysis

Hye Jung Park1, , Eun-Jin Kim2, , Dankyu Yoon2, Jeom Kyu Lee2, Woo-Sung Chang2, Yoen-Mi Lim2, Jung-Won Park3, Joo-Shil Lee2

1Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

2Division of Allergy and Chronic Respiratory Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Osong, Korea.

3Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Correspondence to: Joo-Shil Lee, PhD, Division of Allergy and Chronic Respiratory Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju 28159, Korea. Tel: +82-43-719-8451; Fax: +82-43-719-8909; riwrow@naver.com

Co-Correspondence to: Jung-Won Park, MD, PhD, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemungu, Seoul 03722, Korea. Tel: +82-2-2228-1987; Fax: +82-2-393-6884; parkjw@yuhs.ac

Equal contributor:

Hye Jung Park and Eun-Jin Kim contributed equally to this article as co-first authors.

Received 22 November 2016       Revised 23 February 2017       Accepted 1 March 2017

Copyright © 2017 The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology • The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease

(open-access, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

The prevalence of allergic diseases is known to be associated with both demographic and environmental factors. Herein, we aimed to determine significant factors associated with the prevalence of allergic diseases and with total immunoglobulin E (tIgE) and specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) levels in Korea.

Methods

We analyzed unweighted data collected by the 2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2,342 subjects who underwent serum tests for tIgE and sIgE to Dermatophagoides farinae, dog, and Blattella germanica, representing a sample of 16,003,645 citizens, by considering the sample weight and stratification.

Results

The overall prevalence of self-reported allergic diseases was 37.6%. The prevalence rates of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis decreased with age, whereas the asthma prevalence was not affected by the age of the subjects. When analyzed according to the type of allergic diseases, the prevalence of self-reported allergic disease was significantly associated with various factors (e.g. age, occupation, living in urban areas, and depression). The tIgE level decreased with age, but later increased. Elevation of tIgE was significantly associated with male sex, type of occupation, obesity, and smoking status. However, the risk factors for the increased sIgE levels to each allergen were quite different. Sensitization to D. farinae was more likely in young subjects, whereas the prevalence of sensitization to B. germanica was significantly higher in subjects with male sex, residing in a house (houses), and with glucose intolerance. Finally, young age and the smoking status were significantly associated with sensitization to dog.

Conclusions

Various demographic and environmental factors were significantly associated with the prevalence of self-reported allergic diseases and the levels of tIgE and sIgE to D. farinae, B. germanica, and dog in Korea.

Keywords: Allergy, demographic factors, environment, immunoglobulin E

INTRODUCTION

The pathogenesis of allergic diseases is multifactorial. Extensive evidence indicates that genetic susceptibility, as well as environmental and demographic factors, affects allergen sensitization and development of allergic diseases.1234 Exposure to allergens is crucially important in inducing sensitization and developing allergic diseases, and the environmental concentration of allergens is critical. For example, the prevalence of pollen sensitization and allergic diseases tends to be high for those living in an environment with high atmospheric concentration of pollen.56 Demographic factors, including sex, age, and obesity, are significant contributing factors to the development of allergic diseases.789 In addition, in recent studies, the vitamin D level was suggested as a significant factor associated with the risk of allergic diseases.10 However, large-scale studies to detect significant factors related to the development of allergies are lacking, especially in Korea.
The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) is a large-scale cross-sectional survey, conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), which collects a significant amount of demographic and environmental data. The survey sample represents the entire non-institutionalized general population of South Korea.11 In 2010, the survey included a questionnaire for allergic diseases and serologic tests for total immunoglobulin E (tIgE) and specific IgE (sIgE) to Dermatophagoides farinae (house dust mite), dog, and Blattella germanica (German cockroach). Thus, the KNHANES provides useful data to define and confirm significant factors associated with allergen sensitization and the prevalence of allergic diseases.
In this study, we aimed to define significant demographic and environmental factors associated with the tIgE and sIgE levels and the prevalence of allergic diseases using data from the fifth KNHANES, conducted in 2010.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study design and populations

This study analyzed the data from the fifth KNHANES, a national survey performed in 2010-2012. In the fifth KNHANES, all subjects were tested for tIgE. The survey used complex probability procedures to represent the entire Korean general population, including stratification and multiple stages of cluster selection using age, sex, location of residence, type of residence, education level, and other variables. In the present study, to obtain appropriate estimates, we followed the guidelines for reporting sample weight (sampling weights) and stratification designated by the KCDC; this information is available on the KNHANES website (http://knhanes.cdc.go.kr).
Among all subjects registered in 2010, a total of 2,342 subjects aged ≥10 years responded to the health survey and underwent serum IgE tests between January and December 2010. These subjects represented 16,003,645 citizens of Korea (about one-third of the total population of Korea) as obtained by complex sample analysis. In terms of the variables assessed, glucose tolerance status, body mass index (BMI), smoking history, and depression were assessed for 1,977 subjects aged ≥19 years, representing 13,762,677 citizens. The subjects' education level, marriage status, income level, and occupation were assessed for 1,577 subjects aged ≥30 years, representing 9,624,008 citizens.
All participants provided written informed consent prior to the survey. The KCDC Institutional Review Board approved the fifth KNHANES (#KCDC-2010-02CON-21-C).

Interview items

Responses to all questionnaire items were obtained by face-to-face interviews. Allergic disease was defined as the presence of at least 1 self-reported allergic disease, including allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and bronchial asthma. Responses of “negative” for 1 or 2 allergic diseases in addition to missing responses for the remaining disease options were considered missing values. The presence of depression was assessed as previously described.121314 Each subject's residential district was classified as urban (“Dong” in Korea) or suburban/rural (“Eup/Myun”). The type of residence was classified as apartment or house. Income level was categorized into 4 quartiles: quartile 1, <$2,600/month; quartile 2, $2,600-$4,300/month; quartile 3, $4,300-$8,600/month; and quartile 4, >$8,600/month. Smoking history was classified as never-smoker, light smoker (<5 pack-years/entire life), or smoker (≥5 pack-years/entire life).

Measurements

BMI is measured as body weight (to the nearest 0.1 kg) divided by the square of the body weight (nearest 0.1 cm), and expressed in unit of kg/m2. Glucose tolerance was tested as previously described.15 In brief, blood samples were obtained after ≥8 hours of fasting. Based on the fasting glucose levels, the glucose tolerance status was categorized as normal, impaired fasting glucose, or diabetes mellitus. The serum vitamin D level was categorized into 3 groups: quartile 1, <13.30 ng/mL; quartiles 2-3, 13.30-21.37 ng/mL; and quartile 4, ≥21.37 ng/mL. The 5th KNHANES included data on the tIgE and 3 types of sIgE. According to a previous Korean cohort study,16 the selection of these 3 types of sIgE (D. farinae, B. germanica, and dog) does not lead to large discrepancies in revealing the atopy status in Korea. We used the ImmunoCAP® system (Thermo Scientific, Uppsala, Sweden) to measure the levels of tIgE and sIgE to D. farinae, B. germanica, and dog, following the manufacturer's instructions. Elevation of the tIgE level was defined as a tIgE level >100 kU/L. Positivity to sIgE was defined as an sIgE level >0.35 kU/L.

Statistical analysis

For data analysis of the survey, which involved a complex sample, we used the KNHANES stratification variables and sampling weight (weights). The missing data were dealt with using complete case analysis. Because the distribution of serum IgE was log-normal, the tIgE levels were logarithmically transformed for statistical analysis. Differences in the geometric mean of tIgE were tested using t tests, and differences in the prevalence of allergic diseases were tested using χ2 tests. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the prevalence of allergic diseases and positivity of sIgE to D. farinae, B. germanica, and dog. SPSS v. 18.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for all analyses, and P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis of factors associated with the prevalence of any allergic disease

The overall prevalence of self-reported allergic diseases was 37.6% (Table 1). The prevalence rates of allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma were 29.0%, 7.1%, and 4.1%, respectively (Table 2). The overall prevalence of allergic diseases was inversely correlated with age (Table 1). Although the prevalence rates of allergic rhinitis (P<0.001) and atopic dermatitis (P<0.001) significantly correlated with young age, no association between the prevalence of asthma and age was observed (P=0.882) (Table 2). The residence district, education level, occupation, glucose tolerance, depression, elevation of tIgE, sIgE to D. farinae, and sIgE to dog were also identified as significant factors associated with allergic diseases in the univariate analyses (Table 1).

Univariate analyses of factors associated with the tIgE level

The geometric mean tIgE level was 94.8 kU/L (95% confidence interval [CI], 87.9-102.3). The mean tIgE level was significantly higher in men than in women. The tIgE level decreased with age, but later increased. The residence district, type of residence, occupation, glucose tolerance, BMI, smoking history, depression, and serum vitamin D level were significantly associated with the tIgE level in the univariate analyses (Table 1).

Multivariate analyses for factors associated with self-reported allergic diseases

Multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the associations of the factors analyzed with each type of self-reported allergic disease (Table 2). Young age (P=0.013), the subjects' occupation (P=0.008), glucose intolerance (P=0.023), and sensitization to dog (P=0.007) were found to be significant independent risk factors for allergic rhinitis. Young age (P=0.015), occupation (P=0.038), and depression (P=0.029) were significantly and independently associated with atopic dermatitis. Finally, a high education level (P=0.003), depression (P=0.009), elevation of tIgE (P=0.001), and sensitization to dog (P=0.001) were significantly and independently associated with asthma (Table 3).

Risk factors for elevation of tIgE

Based on the results of the univariate analysis (Table 1), we conducted a multivariate analysis and found that sex, occupation, BMI, and smoking history were independent risk factors for elevation of tIgE in subjects aged ≥30 years. Specifically, male sex (odds ratio [OR] in women, 0.510; 95% CI, 0.329-0.790; P=0.003), occupations related to agriculture and fishery (OR, 2.728; 95% CI, 1.391-5.350; P=0.044), obesity (OR, 1.453; 95% CI, 1.061-1.989; P=0.010), and smokers (OR vs never-smokers, 1.693; 95% CI, 1.132-2.533; P=0.010) (Table 4) were independent risk factors for elevation of tIgE.

Risk factors for sensitization to D. farinae

In the univariate analysis (Table 1), male sex, age, occupation, smoking history, BMI, and the vitamin D level were significant risk factors for sensitization to D. farinae. In the multivariate analysis, old age was found to be negatively associated with allergic diseases, when compared with those aged 30-39 years as the reference group (OR, 0.611 in those aged 40-49 years; OR, 0.785 in those aged 50-59 years; OR, 0.644 in those aged ≥60 years; P=0.036). Although the vitamin D level was significantly associated with sensitization to D. farinae, the effects on the sensitization were not consistent (OR, 0.731 for quartiles 2-3, P=0.030; OR, 1.072 for quartile 4) (Table 5).

Risk factors for sensitization to B. germanica

In the univariate analysis, male sex, residential district, type of residence, occupation, glucose tolerance status, BMI, and smoking history were significant risk factors for sensitization to B. germanica. In the multivariate analysis, male sex was found to be a significant independent risk factor of sensitization to B. germanica (OR, 0.307 in women; 95% CI, 0.193-0.489; P<0.001), whereas subjects living in apartments had a reduced risk (OR, 0.682; 95% CI, 0.484-0.959; P=0.028). Further, glucose intolerance was identified as another significant risk factor for sensitization to B. germanica (OR, 1.413 in those with impaired fasting glucose; OR, 1.928 in those with diabetes mellitus; P=0.012) (Table 6).

Risk factors for sensitization to dog

In the univariate analysis, male sex, age, and smoking status were significant risk factors for sensitization to dog. In the multivariate analysis, older age was found to be associated with a low risk for sensitization to dog (P=0.014), whereas smokers were associated with a high risk, as compared with never smokers (OR, 2.423; 95% CI, 1.416-4.145; P=0.004) (Table 7).

DISCUSSION

This large cross-sectional study aimed to identify demographic and environmental factors associated with the prevalence of allergic diseases and allergen sensitization in the non-institutionalized Korean general population. As a result, we found that allergic diseases and allergen sensitization were significantly associated with various demographic factors.
First, age was a significant risk factor for self-reported allergic diseases. Specifically, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis decreased with increasing age, supporting the findings of previous studies.1718 Aging-related immunomodulation and immune tolerance induced by long-term exposure to allergens could be responsible for these associations.19 In contrast, the asthma prevalence was not associated with age in this study. A previous large-scale cohort study also showed that age was not significantly associated with the prevalence of asthma.20 However, some previous Korean cohort studies conversely showed that the prevalence of asthma increased with age.2122 Thus, further studies should be performed to confirm the association between the prevalence of asthma and age in Korea.
Second, occupation was a significant contributing factor for allergic diseases. The prevalence of at least 1 allergic disease for subjects in agriculture and fishery occupations (14.1%) or service and sales occupations (20.4%) was significantly lower than that for those in other occupations (31.9%-36.5%; data not shown). Especially, an occupation related to agriculture and fisheries was a protective factor for allergic rhinitis in the multivariate analysis, whereas it was an independent risk factor for the elevation of tIgE. Exposure to a farm environment has been considered protective against allergic diseases,232425 whereas exposure to chemical agents in some occupations, including among technicians and labor workers, is a risk factor for allergic diseases.26 Thus, different occupational environments may affect the development of allergic disease.
Third, depression was significantly associated with allergic diseases, especially self-reported asthma (OR, 2.691; 95% CI, 1.280-5.655; P=0.009) and self-reported atopic dermatitis (OR, 2.549; 95% CI, 1.101-5.899; P=0.029). However, in contrast to the other factors described above, depression may not be a direct cause of allergic disease. The adverse effect of self-reported allergic disease on depression has already been well demonstrated in previous studies,121314 and it is likely that depression may be induced or aggravated by allergic diseases rather than being a cause.
Lastly, glucose intolerance was found to be a significant risk factor for allergic rhinitis, whereas a higher level of education was protective for self-reported asthma. Previous studies have reported a significant correlation between diabetes and allergic diseases.15 However, evidence to confirm a significant causal relationship between these conditions is still lacking. Similarly, while data regarding the effects of education level on self-reported asthma have been accumulated, the evidence is still insufficient.2728
Interestingly, in the present study, we observed significant gaps between the tIgE level and the prevalence of allergic disease. Male sex, obesity, and smoking were identified as significant risk factors for tIgE. The higher frequency of elevated tIgE in men supports the findings of previous studies.2930 This result may be secondary to the correlations of alcohol consumption and/or parasitic infections with IgE, as heavy alcoholics and asymptomatic parasite-infected subjects are frequently observed in Korea, especially among men.313233 Although the data are not shown, the positivity rate of tIgE increased with increasing alcohol consumption amount in this study (37.1%, 50.5%, and 70.5% for subjects with ≤1, 2-3, and ≥4 events of alcohol consumption/week, respectively P<0.001). However, male sex was still a significant risk factor for positivity of tIgE even after adjusting for the alcohol consumption amount in the multivariate analysis, indicating that male sex is an independent risk factor for positivity of tIgE regardless of alcohol consumption. The effects of obesity3435 and smoking3637 on the tIgE level are also widely accepted, based on sufficient evidence. Of note, recent studies have revealed that the sIgE/tIgE ratio is more accurate than sIgE alone in predicting outcomes in food allergy, suggesting a protective effect of tIgE against allergic symptoms.38 However, this topic remains controversial, with varying opinions,3940 and some studies have suggested that the serum tIgE level is positively correlated with allergic disease.414243
The factors associated with positivity of sIgE differed according to the type of allergen. Male sex and house residence were significant factors associated with positivity of sIgE to B. germanica. These factors are associated with household hygiene and have been previously reported as significant factors for sensitization to B. germanica. In addition, smoking was significantly associated with positivity of sIgE to dog; this result is also supported by other studies.4445
Some of the associated factors identified in the present study are modifiable, and exposure or avoidance of these factors may help prevent allergen sensitization and development of allergic diseases. For example, early exposure to a farm-like environment may help prevent allergic diseases. Hygiene-related factors, including residing in an apartment, and glucose intolerance should be improved to avoid sensitization to cockroaches. In addition, avoidance of smoking and obesity may help prevent the development of allergic diseases.
The major strength of this study is that the data were obtained from a well-designed national program with complex, multistage probability sample extraction, and that we used complex sample analysis, resulting in the representation of 16,003,645 citizens, which is one-third of the total population of Korea. Although the KNHANES provides specific guidelines to ensure appropriate estimates and results due to the inherent nature of a multiple complex survey design, almost all research articles published on the basis of the data from the KNHANES used standard statistical analyses.46 We followed the KNHANES guidelines concerning the statistical analysis; this provided valuable information that can be generalized to the entire Korean general population.
However, an important limitation of the present study is its cross-sectional design; because it was not a longitudinal study, the temporal relationship of the associated factors could not be evaluated. For example, we could not determine if smoking was a significant risk factor for allergic diseases or if subjects with allergic disease were at risk for smoking. Another limitation of this study is that the data in the multivariate analysis were assessed only for subjects who were older than 30 years. This was because we considered that the assessment of the subjects' education level, marriage status, income level, and occupation at that age was reliable. Third, most parameters, including allergic disease, occupation, and income level, were obtained using a self-reported survey. The prevalence of physician-diagnosed allergic disease may differ from that of self-reported allergic disease. Similarly, self-reported occupation and income level may be affected by the respondent's judgment. Moreover, the residence district and occupation may also be affected by various parameters. For example, people who moved to a rural area recently after living in an urban area or who had a recent change in occupation might result in confusion. Lastly, although we could not conduct further analysis due to limited provided information, dividing the subjects into those with allergic asthma and non-allergic asthma might provide interesting results, as the pathogeneses and treatments differ between these entities.47
In conclusion, demographic and environmental risk factors associated with the tIgE and sIgE levels, as well as with self-reported allergic diseases, differ according to the type of allergens and allergic diseases. The results of the present study suggest that appropriate management of numerous modifiable factors might help prevent allergen sensitization and development of allergic diseases. Further studies are warranted to confirm our findings and identify any causal relationships.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was supported by a grant from the Korea Healthcare Technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health and Welfare (A092076), and fund (2014-NI56001-00) by Research of Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Republic of Korea. The raw data of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were provided by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Notes

There are no financial or other issues that might lead to conflict of interest.

References

1. Larsen FS, Holm NV, Henningsen K. Atopic dermatitis. A genetic-epidemiologic study in a population-based twin sample. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1986; 15:487–494. PMID: 3760273.
crossref
2. Sicherer SH, Furlong TJ, Maes HH, Desnick RJ, Sampson HA, Gelb BD. Genetics of peanut allergy: a twin study. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000; 106:53–56. PMID: 10887305.
crossref
3. Liu X, Zhang S, Tsai HJ, Hong X, Wang B, Fang Y, et al. Genetic and environmental contributions to allergen sensitization in a Chinese twin study. Clin Exp Allergy. 2009; 39:991–998. PMID: 19302247.
crossref
4. Campbell DE, Boyle RJ, Thornton CA, Prescott SL. Mechanisms of allergic disease - environmental and genetic determinants for the development of allergy. Clin Exp Allergy. 2015; 45:844–858. PMID: 25772780.
crossref
5. Ariano R, Berra D, Chiodini E, Ortolani V, Cremonte LG, Mazzarello MG, et al. Ragweed allergy: pollen count and sensitization and allergy prevalence in two Italian allergy centers. Allergy Rhinol (Providence). 2015; 6:177–183. PMID: 26686209.
6. Park HJ, Lee JH, Park KH, Kim KR, Han MJ, Choe H, et al. A six-year study on the changes in airborne pollen counts and skin positivity rates in Korea: 2008-2013. Yonsei Med J. 2016; 57:714–720. PMID: 26996572.
crossref
7. Song Y, Wang M, Xie J, Li W, Zhang X, Wang T, et al. Prevalence of allergic rhinitis among elementary and middle school students in Changsha city and its impact on quality of life. J Laryngol Otol. 2015; 129:1108–1114. PMID: 26391176.
crossref
8. Lusi EA, Di Ciommo VM, Patrissi T, Guarascio P. High prevalence of nickel allergy in an overweight female population: a pilot observational analysis. PLoS One. 2015; 10:e0123265. PMID: 25822975.
crossref
9. Han YY, Forno E, Gogna M, Celedón JC. Obesity and rhinitis in a nationwide study of children and adults in the United States. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016; 137:1460–1465. PMID: 26883461.
crossref
10. Niruban SJ, Alagiakrishnan K, Beach J, Senthilselvan A. Association between vitamin D and respiratory outcomes in Canadian adolescents and adults. J Asthma. 2015; 52:653–661. PMID: 25563060.
crossref
11. Kim Y. The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES): current status and challenges. Epidemiol Health. 2014; 36:e2014002. PMID: 24839580.
crossref
12. Chun YH, Han K, Park YG, Yoon JS, Kim HH, Kim JT, et al. Examining impacts of allergic diseases on psychological problems and tobacco use in Korean adolescents: the 2008-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. PLoS One. 2015; 10:e0125172. PMID: 25897790.
crossref
13. Lu Y, Mak KK, van Bever HP, Ng TP, Mak A, Ho RC. Prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in adolescents with asthma: a meta-analysis and meta-regression. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2012; 23:707–715. PMID: 22957535.
crossref
14. Kim DH, Han K, Kim SW. Relationship between allergic rhinitis and mental health in the general Korean adult population. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2016; 8:49–54. PMID: 26540501.
crossref
15. Fukui M, Tanaka M, Hamaguchi M, Senmaru T, Sakabe K, Shiraishi E, et al. Eosinophil count is positively correlated with albumin excretion rate in men with type 2 diabetes. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009; 4:1761–1765. PMID: 19808222.
crossref
16. Park HJ, Lim HS, Park KH, Lee JH, Park JW, Hong CS. Changes in allergen sensitization over the last 30 years in Korea respiratory allergic patients: a single-center. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2014; 6:434–443. PMID: 25229001.
crossref
17. Salo PM, Arbes SJ Jr, Jaramillo R, Calatroni A, Weir CH, Sever ML, et al. Prevalence of allergic sensitization in the United States: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2006. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014; 134:350–359. PMID: 24522093.
crossref
18. Hwang CY, Chen YJ, Lin MW, Chen TJ, Chu SY, Chen CC, et al. Prevalence of atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and asthma in Taiwan: a national study 2000 to 2007. Acta Derm Venereol. 2010; 90:589–594. PMID: 21057741.
19. Vasto S, Malavolta M, Pawelec G. Age and immunity. Immun Ageing. 2006; 3:2. PMID: 16504129.
crossref
20. Yao CW, Shen TC, Lu CR, Wang YC, Lin CL, Tu CY, et al. Asthma is associated with a subsequent risk of peripheral artery disease: a longitudinal population-based study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016; 95:e2546. PMID: 26817901.
21. Kim S, Kim J, Kim K, Kim Y, Park Y, Baek S, et al. Healthcare use and prescription patterns associated with adult asthma in Korea: analysis of the NHI claims database. Allergy. 2013; 68:1435–1442. PMID: 24131085.
crossref
22. Kim CY, Park HW, Ko SK, Chang SI, Moon HB, Kim YY, et al. The financial burden of asthma: a nationwide comprehensive survey conducted in the republic of Korea. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2011; 3:34–38. PMID: 21217923.
crossref
23. von Mutius E, Vercelli D. Farm living: effects on childhood asthma and allergy. Nat Rev Immunol. 2010; 10:861–868. PMID: 21060319.
crossref
24. Smit LA, Heederik D, Doekes G, Lammers JW, Wouters IM. Occupational endotoxin exposure reduces the risk of atopic sensitization but increases the risk of bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2010; 152:151–158. PMID: 20016197.
crossref
25. Elholm G, Schlünssen V, Doekes G, Basinas I, Bibby BM, Hjort C, et al. Become a farmer and avoid new allergic sensitization: adult farming exposures protect against new-onset atopic sensitization. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013; 132:1239–1241. PMID: 23987793.
crossref
26. Prodi A, Rui F, Fortina AB, Corradin MT, Filon FL. Occupational sensitization to epoxy resins in Northeastern Italy (1996-2010). Int J Occup Environ Health. 2015; 21:82–87. PMID: 25633931.
crossref
27. Zhao HJ, Cai SX, Tong WC, Li WJ, Fu L. Influence of education level on self-evaluation and control of patients with bronchial asthma. Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2008; 28:715–717. PMID: 18504187.
28. Lee KS, Rha YH, Oh IH, Choi YS, Choi SH. Socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors related to allergic diseases in Korean adolescents based on the Seventh Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey: a cross-sectional study. BMC Pediatr. 2016; 16:19. PMID: 26819079.
crossref
29. Ezeamuzie CI, Al-Ali SF, Al-Dowaisan A, Khan M, Hijazi Z, Thomson MS. Reference values of total serum IgE and their significance in the diagnosis of allergy among the young adult Kuwaiti population. Clin Exp Allergy. 1999; 29:375–381. PMID: 10202346.
crossref
30. Paula Couto TA, Falsarella N, Mattos Cde C, Mattos LC. Total IgE plasma levels vary according to gender and age in Brazilian patients with allergic rhinitis. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2014; 69:740–744. PMID: 25518031.
31. Linneberg A, Petersen J, Nielsen NH, Madsen F, Frølund L, Dirksen A, et al. The relationship of alcohol consumption to total immunoglobulin E and the development of immunoglobulin E sensitization: the Copenhagen Allergy Study. Clin Exp Allergy. 2003; 33:192–198. PMID: 12580911.
crossref
32. Song WJ, Chang YS, Lim MK, Yun EH, Kim SH, Kang HR, et al. Staphylococcal enterotoxin sensitization in a community-based population: a potential role in adult-onset asthma. Clin Exp Allergy. 2014; 44:553–562. PMID: 24444125.
crossref
33. Lee JY, Yang MH, Hwang JH, Kang M, Paeng JW, Yune S, et al. The prevalence of toxocariasis and diagnostic value of serologic tests in asymptomatic Korean adults. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2015; 7:467–475. PMID: 26122506.
crossref
34. Visness CM, London SJ, Daniels JL, Kaufman JS, Yeatts KB, Siega-Riz AM, et al. results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2009. 1169; 123:1163–1169. 1169.e1–1169.e4.
35. Schachter LM, Peat JK, Salome CM. Asthma and atopy in overweight children. Thorax. 2003; 58:1031–1035. PMID: 14645967.
crossref
36. Holford-Strevens V, Warren P, Wong C, Manfreda J. Serum total immunoglobulin E levels in Canadian adults. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1984; 73:516–522. PMID: 6707394.
37. Barbee RA, Halonen M, Kaltenborn W, Lebowitz M, Burrows B. A longitudinal study of serum IgE in a community cohort: correlations with age, sex, smoking, and atopic status. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1987; 79:919–927. PMID: 3584747.
crossref
38. Gupta RS, Lau CH, Hamilton RG, Donnell A, Newhall KK. Predicting outcomes of oral food challenges by using the allergen-specific IgE-total IgE ratio. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2014; 2:300–305. PMID: 24811021.
crossref
39. Grabenhenrich L, Lange L, Härtl M, Kalb B, Ziegert M, Finger A, et al. The component-specific to total IgE ratios do not improve peanut and hazelnut allergy diagnoses. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016; 137:1751–1760.e8. PMID: 27087317.
40. Daniluk U, Alifier M, Kaczmarski M, Stasiak-Barmuta A, Lebensztejn D. Longitudinal observation of children with enhanced total serum IgE. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2015; 114:404–410.e4. PMID: 25747322.
crossref
41. Benício MH, Ferreira MU, Cardoso MR, Konno SC, Monteiro CA. Wheezing conditions in early childhood: prevalence and risk factors in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Bull World Health Organ. 2004; 82:516–522. PMID: 15508196.
42. Satwani H, Rehman A, Ashraf S, Hassan A. Is serum total IgE levels a good predictor of allergies in children? J Pak Med Assoc. 2009; 59:698–702. PMID: 19813686.
43. Kim SH, Yang SY, You J, Lee SB, You J, Chang YS, et al. Association of specific immunoglobulin e to staphylococcal enterotoxin with airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma patients. Tuberc Respir Dis (Seoul). 2016; 79:295–301. PMID: 27790282.
crossref
44. Adisesh A, Gruszka L, Robinson E, Evans G. Smoking status and immunoglobulin E seropositivity to workplace allergens. Occup Med (Lond). 2011; 61:62–64. PMID: 21098081.
crossref
45. Shargorodsky J, Garcia-Esquinas E, Navas-Acien A, Lin SY. Allergic sensitization, rhinitis, and tobacco smoke exposure and adolescents. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2015; 5:471–476. PMID: 25884913.
46. Kim Y, Park S, Kim NS, Lee BK. Inappropriate survey design analysis of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey may produce biased results. J Prev Med Public Health. 2013; 46:96–104. PMID: 23573374.
crossref
47. Kim DK, Park YB, Oh YM, Jung KS, Yoo JH, Yoo KH, et al. Korean Asthma Guideline 2014: summary of major updates to the Korean Asthma Guideline 2014. Tuberc Respir Dis (Seoul). 2016; 79:111–120. PMID: 27433170.
crossref
Table 1

Univariate analyses of factors associated with the total and specific immunoglobulin E levels and prevalence of any allergic diseases

aair-9-329-i001
Characteristics No. of participants No. of represented population (%) Allergic disease prevalence (%) P value tIgE (95% CI) (kU/L) P value
Overall (No.) 2,342 16,003,645 (100.0) 37.6 94.8 (87.9–102.3)
Gender 0.858 <0.001
 Male 1,159 8,925,094 (55.8) 37.8 130.5 (117.8–144.5)
 Female 1,183 7,078,551 (44.2) 37.3 63.4 (58.0–69.3)
Age (year) <0.001 0.008
 10–19 395 2,552,815 (16.0) Not available‡ 104.1 (88.1–122.9)
 20-29 370 3,826,822 (23.9) 42.8 90.3 (75.7–107.6)
 30-39 393 2,776,446 (17.3) 41.1 84.9 (73.0–98.8)
 40-49 393 3,011,436 (18.8) 25.9 81.2 (69.3–95.2)
 50-59 400 2,394,115 (15.0) 24.8 114.6 (94.9–138.2)
 ≥60 391 1,442,012 (9.0) 23.9 114.6 (93.5–140.6)
Residence district 0.039 0.016
 Urban 1,891 12,834,689 (80.2) 39.1 90.4 (83.2–98.2)
 Suburban/rural 451 3,168,956 (19.8) 31.3 115.0 (96.3–137.2)
Type of residence 0.719 0.018
 House 1,258 10,980,539 (68.6) 37.2 100.5 (91.2–110.7)
 Apartment 1,084 5,023,107 (31.4) 38.3 83.6 (74.3–94.0)
Education* 0.002 0.244
 Below elementary school 354 1,686,437 (17.7) 28.0 114.4 (91.8–142.5)
 Middle school 197 1,181,370 (12.4) 22.5 87.7 (69.3–111.0)
 High school 524 3,509,967 (36.9) 25.5 92.5 (79.7–107.4)
 Above university 486 3,146,779 (33.0) 37.9 89.7 (78.9–102.0)
Marriage* 0.050 0.360
 Married 1,480 8,801,817 (91.5) 28.6 93.2 (85.6–101.6)
 Unmarried 96 819,421 (8.5) 41.6 108.0 (79.6–143.4)
Income level* 0.268 0.264
 1 quartile 411 2,727,269 (28.6) 32.2 109.7 (91.0–132.1)
 2 quartile 390 2,368,780 (24.9) 24.9 89.2 (76.6–103.9)
 3 quartile 379 2,230,668 (23.4) 32.1 84.4 (69.2–103.0)
 4 quartile 380 2,200,208 (23.1) 28.8 90.8 (77.4–106.4)
Occupation* <0.001 <0.001
 Professional job 199 1,353,626 (14.3) 36.5 83.9 (66.3–106.2)
 Office job 147 911,227 (9.6) 32.9 77.5 (61.3–97.8)
 Service, sales job 233 1,507,708 (15.9) 20.4 82.6 (66.7–102.2)
 Agriculture and fisheries job 149 882,399 (9.3) 14.1 179.5 (138.6–232.5)
 Technician, engineer 196 1,459,241 (15.4) 35.5 133.4 (107.7–165.1)
 Labor worker 127 758,518 (8.0) 33.1 102.4 (71.3–147.2)
 Jobless 503 2,596,925 (27.4) 31.9 73.3 (63.6–84.6)
Glucose tolerance† 0.003 <0.001
 Normal 1,432 10,249,174 (77.5) 36.1 85.2 (76.8–94.4)
 Impaired fasting glucose 320 2,036,951 (15.4) 25.3 106.2 (88.4–127.7)
 Diabetes mellitus 159 944,641 (7.1) 23.4 142.7 (113.5–179.5)
BMI† (kg/m2) 0.083 <0.001
 Low weight (<18.5) 86 612,044 (4.5) 42.0 47.2 (35.0–63.7)
 Standard (18.5-25.0) 1,248 8,718,890 (63.7) 35.5 84.5 (76.2–93.8)
 Obesity (>25.0) 628 4,345,841 (31.8) 29.5 124.4 (108.5–142.5)
Smoking history† 0.226 <0.001
 Never smoker 1,051 6,599,290 (48.2) 34.0 66.5 (60.6–72.9)
 Light smoker (<5 pack/whole life) 68 585,990 (4.3) 43.6 103.8 (67.7–159.3)
 Smoker (≥5 pack/life) 845 6,493,304 (47.5) 32.4 131.2 (114.4–150.4)
Depression† 0.015 0.001
 No 1,688 11,885,162 (86.8) 32.4 99.0 (90.4–108.5)
 Yes 279 1,807,876 (13.2) 42.5 64.3 (50.6–81.9)
Serum vitamin D level 0.199 0.018
 1 quartile 584 4,074,877 (25.5) 40.4 84.9 (74.7–96.5)
 2, 3 quartile 1,173 7,862,277 (49.1) 38.3 90.7 (81.7–100.7)
 4 quartile 585 4,066,492 (25.4) 33.6 115.6 (97.8–136.5)
Elevation of tIgE (>100 kU/L) 0.002 -
 Negative 1,373 9,154,543 (57.2) 33.7 23.1 (32.3–36.0)
 Positive 969 6,849,102 (42.8) 42.8 372.1 (347.4–398.6)
Positivity to sIgE to D. farinae <0.001 -
 Negative 1,403 9,235,722 (57.7) 32.4 45.9 (42.7–49.5)
 Positive 939 6,767,923 (42.3) 44.6 255.0 (229.1–283.7)
Positivity to sIgE to B. germanica 12,562,395 (78.5) 0.387 -
 Negative 1,878 3,441,250 (21.5) 36.9 67.4 (62.6–72.5)
 Positive 464 39.9 330.4 (291.4–374.7)
Positivity to sIgE to dog§ 0.001 -
 Negative 2,198 14,824,206 (92.6) 36.0 82.7 (76.5–89.5)
 Positive 144 1,179,439 (7.4) 56.4 527.8 (398.0–700.0)

tIgE, total immunoglobulin E; sIgE, specific immunoglobulin E; CI, confidence interval; BMI, body mass index.

*Subjects aged ≥30 years (n=1,577, representing 9,624,008 citizens); †Subjects aged ≥19 years (n=1,977, representing 13,762,677 citizens); ‡Data were missing for 60.3% of the participants; §Positivity to sIgE was defined as a level >0.35 kU/L.

Table 2

Univariate analyses of the prevalence rates of allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma according to age and sex

aair-9-329-i002
Characteristics Prevalence of allergic rhinitis (%) P value Prevalence of atopic dermatitis (%) P value Prevalence of asthma (%) P value
Overall 29.0 - 7.1 - 4.1 -
Gender 0.970 0.366 0.202
 Male 29.0 7.7 4.7
 Female 29.1 6.3 3.2
Age (year) <0.001 <0.001 0.882
 10–19 36.8 16.5 6.1
 20–29 34.9 11.7 3.1
 30–39 34.8 8.6 4.6
 40–49 21.0 3.8 4.5
 50–59 20.4 4.5 3.9
 ≥60 19.6 1.5 4.7
Table 3

Multivariate analyses of potential independent risk factors for allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma in subjects aged ≥30 years

aair-9-329-i003
Variables Allergic rhinitis Atopic dermatitis Asthma
OR 95% CI P value OR 95% CI P value OR 95% CI P value
Age (year) 0.013 0.015 0.540
 30–39 Reference - Reference - Reference -
 40–49 0.592 0.404–0.868 0.472 0.206–1.083 0.996 0.412–2.410
 50–59 0.656 0.434–0.992 0.608 0.281–1.314 0.523 0.176–1.552
 ≥60 0.561 0.352–0.894 0.162 0.048–0.553 0.637 0.266–1.522
Residence district 0.713 0.989 0.555
 Urban Reference - Reference - Reference -
 Suburban/rural 0.912 0.557–1.493 1.006 0.413–2.453 0.757 0.299–1.916
Education 0.106 0.662 0.003
 Below elementary school Reference - Reference - Reference -
 Middle school 0.743 0.405–1.365 0.547 0.097–3.095 0.873 0.303–2.518
 High school 0.746 0.437–1.275 0.768 0.288–2.047 0.127 0.041–0.392
 Above university 1.181 0.701–1.987 1.155 0.411–3.243 0.430 0.141–1.310
Occupation 0.008 0.037 0.122
 Professional job in urban Reference - Reference - Reference -
 Office job 1.219 0.695–2.139 0.552 0.173–1.760 0.537 0.126–2.292
 Service, sales job 0.680 0.396–1.168 0.656 0.223–1.935 0.579 0.168–1.999
 Agriculture and fisheries job 0.565 0.251–1.271 0.108 0.016–0.746 0.234 0.046–1.203
 Technician, engineer 1.498 0.863–2.598 1.030 0.395–2.686 0.842 0.280–2.533
 Labor worker 1.073 0.487–2.364 1.700 0.367–7.867 0.247 0.058–1.048
 Jobless 1.487 0.880–2.514 0.425 0.139–1.299 0.349 0.126–0.968
Glucose tolerance 0.023 0.964 0.298
 Normal Reference - Reference - Reference -
 Impaired fasting glucose 0.733 0.476–1.128 1.100 0.514–2.355 0.696 0.297–1.633
 Diabetes mellitus 0.463 0.259–0.830 1.103 0.222–5.470 1.999 0.666–5.999
Depression 0.273 0.029 0.009
 No Reference - Reference - Reference -
 Yes 1.247 0.839–1.852 2.548 1.101–5.899 2.691 1.280–5.655
Elevation of tIgE 0.728 0.072 0.001
 Negative Reference - Reference - Reference -
 Positive 0.934 0.633–1.377 0.505 0.239–1.064 0.264 0.123–0.567
Positivity to sIgE to D. farinae 0.064 0.170 0.078
 Negative Reference - Reference - Reference -
 Positive 0.697 0.475–1.021 1.555 0.826–2.926 1.943 0.927–4.073
Positivity to sIgE to dog 0.007 0.729 0.001
 Negative Reference - Reference - Reference -
 Positive 0.408 0.213–0.784 0.801 0.227–2.825 0.264 0.123–0.567

OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; tIgE, total immunoglobulin E; sIgE, specific immunoglobulin E.

Table 4

Multivariate analysis for positive total immunoglobulin E in subjects aged ≥30 years (n=1,577, representing 9,624,008 citizens ≥30 years)

aair-9-329-i004
Variables OR 95% CI P value
Gender 0.003
 Male Reference -
 Female 0.510 0.329–0.790
Age (year) 0.406
 30-39 Reference -
 40-49 0.765 0.522–1.122
 50-59 1.054 0.729–1.523
 ≥60 0.949 0.598–1.508
Residence district 0.821
 Urban Reference -
 Suburban/rural 1.044 0.720–1.513
Type of residence 0.379
 House Reference
 Apartment 0.879
Occupation 0.044
 Professional job in urban area Reference -
 Office job 0.954 0.536–1.700
 Service, sales job 1.300 0.766–2.206
 Agriculture and fisheries job 2.728 1.391–5.350
 Technician, engineer 1.840 1.075-3.150
 Labor worker 1.831 0.997–3.362
 Jobless 1.426 0.890–2.284
Glucose tolerance 0.244
 Normal Reference -
 Impaired fasting glucose 1.105 0.785–1.554
 Diabetes mellitus 1.414 0.943–2.120
BMI 0.010
 Normal Reference -
 Low weight 0.421 0.147-1.202
 Obesity 1.453
Smoking history 0.01
 Never smoker Reference -
 Light smoker 2.469 1.076–5.662
 Smoker 1.693 1.132–2.533
Depression 0.668
 No Reference -
 Yes 1.091 0.730–1.632
Serum vitamin D level 0.961
 1 quartile Reference -
 2, 3 quartile 0.964 0.710–1.309
 4 quartile 0.951 0.651–1.390

Positive tIgE level was defined as tIgE levels >100 kU/L.

OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; BMI, body mass index.

Table 5

Univariate and multivariate analyses for positivity of specific immunoglobulin E to D. farina

aair-9-329-i005
Variables Univariate analysis Multivariate analysis*
OR 95% CI P value OR 95% CI P value
Sex <0.001 0.141
 Male 1.000 - 1.000 -
 Female 0.535 0.437–0.654 0.720 0.465–1.116
Age (year) <0.001 0.036
 10–19 1.000 - - -
 20–29 1.169 0.814–1.679 - -
 30–39 0.779 0.562–1.079 1.000 -
 40–49 0.529 0.372–0.751 0.611 0.431–0.867
 50–59 0.685 0.469–1.001 0.785 0.551–1.119
 ≥60 0.591 0.391–0.892 0.644 0.432–0.960
Occupation* 0.003 0.104
 Professional job 1.000 - 1.000 -
 Office job 0.725 0.451–1.165 0.618 0.373–1.025
 Service, sales job 0.655 0.413–1.038 0.718 0.426–1.210
 Agriculture and fisheries job 1.666 0.996–2.785 1.663 0.919–3.008
 Technician, engineer 1.075 0.713–1.621 0.828 0.526–1.302
 Labor worker 0.836 0.498–1.404 0.957 0.545–1.681
 Jobless 0.618 0.409–0.933 0.788 0.484–1.282
BMI† 0.016 0.056
 Normal 1.000 - 1.000 -
 Low weight 0.493 0.290–0.838 0.377 0.154–0.921
 Obesity 1.182 0.926–1.509 1.146 0.855–1.537
Smoking history† <0.001 0.093
 Never smoker 1.000 - 1.000 -
 Light smoker 0.593 0.468–0.753 1.102 0.460–2.643
 Smoker 0.594 0.315–1.120 1.576 1.045–2.377
Serum vitamin D level 0.029 0.030
 Low level (Q1) 1.000 - 1.000 -
 Mod level (Q2–Q3) 0.827 0.858–1.535 0.731 0.524–1.020
 High level (Q4) 1.148 0.658–1.040 1.072 0.692–1.662

Positivity to sIgE was defined as sIgE levels >0.35 kU/L.

OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; BMI, body mass index.

*Analysis included subjects aged ≥30 years (n=1,577, representing 9,624,008 citizens ≥30 years); †Analysis included subjects aged ≥19 years (n=1,977, representing 13,762,677 citizens ≥19 years).

Table 6

Univariate and multivariate analyses for positivity of specific immunoglobulin E to B. germanica

aair-9-329-i006
Variables Univariate analysis Multivariate analysis*
OR 95% CI P value OR 95% CI P value
Sex <0.001 <0.001
 Male 1.000 - 1.000 -
 Female 0.365 0.282–0.473 0.307 0.193–0.489
Residence district 0.040 0.230
 Urban 1.000 - 1.000 -
 Suburban/rural 1.458 1.017–2.090 1.293 0.849–1.970
Type of residence <0.001 0.028
 House 1.000 - 1.000 -
 Apartment 0.583 0.446–0.761 0.682 0.484–0.959
Occupation* <0.001 0.221
 Professional job 1.000 - 1.000 -
 Office job 1.340 0.758–2.369 1.317 0.693–2.501
 Service, sales job 1.107 0.616–1.988 1.359 0.701–2.635
 Agriculture and fisheries job 2.256 1.272–4.003 1.761 0.902–3.437
 Technician, engineer 1.823 1.058–3.140 1.341 0.720–2.469
 Labor worker 2.114 1.084–4.121 2.500 1.219–5.127
 Jobless 0.843 0.512–1.389 1.297 0.763–2.205
Glucose tolerance† <0.001 0.012
 Normal 1.000 - 1.000 -
 Impaired fasting glucose 1.748 1.237–2.470 1.413 0.958–2.084
 Diabetes mellitus 2.418 1.555–3.761 1.928 1.182–3.147
BMI† <0.001 0.225
 Normal 1.000 - 1.000 -
 Low weight 0.346 0.128–0.935 0.274 0.055–1.363
 Obesity 1.611 1.224–2.122 1.126 0.804–1.577
Smoking history† <0.001 0.972
 Smoker 1.000 - 1.000 -
 Light smoker 0.869 0.413–1.828 0.958 0.387–2.374
 Never smoker 0.496 0.364–0.676 0.945 0.589–1.517

Positivity to sIgE was defined as IgE levels >0.35 kU/L.

OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; BMI, body mass index.

*Analysis included subjects aged ≥30 years (n=1,577, representing 9,624,008 citizens ≥30 years); †Analysis included subjects aged ≥19 years (n=1,977, representing 13,762,677 citizens ≥19 years).

Table 7

Univariate and multivariate analyses for positivity of specific immunoglobulin E to dog

aair-9-329-i007
Variables Univariate analysis Multivariate analysis*
OR 95% CI P value OR 95% CI P value
Sex <0.001 0.249
 Male 1.000 - 1.000 -
 Female 0.407 0.278–0.596 0.750 0.459–1.226
Age (year) 0.013 0.014
 10–19 1.000 - 1.000 -
 20–29 1.038 0.563–1.912 0.492 0.150–1.617
 30-39 0.575 0.316–1.045 0.237 0.069–0.814
 40–49 0.373 0.184–0.757 0.162 0.043–0.610
 50–59 0.644 0.335–1.236 0.271 0.076–0.971
 ≥60 0.411 0.200–0.846 0.186 0.050–0.685
Smoking history* 0.001 0.004
 Never smoker 1.000 - 1.000 -
 Light smoker 0.491 0.157–1.533 1.024 0.293–3.576
 Smoker 0.385 0.234–0.636 2.423 1.416–4.145

Positivity to sIgE was defined as sIgE levels >0.35 kU/L.

OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.

*Analysis included subjects aged ≥19 years (n=1,977, representing 13,762,677 citizens ≥19 years).

TOOLS
Similar articles