title: Epidemiology of immunoglobulin E levels in a defined population.
abstract: Age-adjusted geometric mean IgE levels in 621 older subjects were higher in men (26.3 kU/L) than in women (19.1 kU/L), and decreased with age. The higher levels in men were largely a result of a strong positive association with cigarette smoking. Among allergic conditions, a personal history of asthma was associated with the highest IgE levels. In multiple linear regression models in men, cigarette smoking was the single strongest correlate of IgE levels, while a personal history of allergy was the strongest correlate in women. Our results suggest important nonallergic as well as allergic determinants of IgE levels in populations.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, Department of Community and Family Medicine.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Criqui
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Seibles
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Hamburger
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Coughlin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabriel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E