title: Allergen skin test reactivity in an unselected Danish population. The Glostrup Allergy Study, Denmark.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of allergen skin test reactivity in an unselected Danish population. A total of 793 subjects, aged 15-69 years, were invited, and 599 (75.5%) attended. The skin prick test was performed with standardized allergen extracts of high potency. Skin reactivity occurred in 28.4% of the subjects. The frequency of skin reactivity to the specific allergens ranged from 1.5% (Cladosporium) to 12.5% (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus), and the frequencies of skin reactivity to the allergen groups (pollen, animal dander, house-dust mites, and molds) were 17.6%, 8.7%, 14.0%, and 3.2%, respectively. Young women appeared to reflect the average skin reactivity. When compared with young women, skin reactivity to animal dander was more probable in young men (odds ratio (OR) value = 2.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) of odds ratio value = 1.1-6.1). Current smokers were less likely than nonsmokers to be skin-reactive to pollen (OR = 0.4; 95% CI = 0.3-0.7). In conclusion, allergen skin test reactivity was common, and was related to sex, age, smoking history, and probably genetic predisposition.
authors.affiliation: Glostrup Population Studies, Medical Department C, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: U G
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Svendsen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dirksen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011058:Pollen; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012882:Skin Tests; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D006023:Glycoproteins