Food allergy as a risk factor for asthma morbidity in adults.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between food allergy and asthma morbidity in adults.


METHODS
We interviewed a cohort of persistent asthmatics from an inner-city clinic. Allergies to food were assessed by patient report of convincing symptoms of acute allergic reactions. Outcome variables included health resource utilization and medication use.


RESULTS
The prevalence of allergy to fish, peanut, tree-nut, shellfish, and seed allergies were 3%, 3%, 3%, 13%, and 1%. Patients with allergies to > 1 food had increased asthma hospitalizations, ED visits, and use of oral steroids (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). Specifically, allergy to fish was associated with a greater risk of health resource utilization and increased frequency of oral steroid use (p < or = 0.03 for all comparisons).


CONCLUSIONS
Self-reported allergy to foods was associated with worse outcomes, suggesting that food allergy may be a risk factor for increased asthma morbidity in adults.
Berns
Stephen H
SH
Division of General Internal Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. juan.wisnivesky@mssm.edu
Halm
Ethan A
EA
Sampson
Hugh A
HA
Sicherer
Scott H
SH
Busse
Paula J
PJ
Wisnivesky
Juan P
JP
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D012307:Risk Factors