title: Differences in allergic sensitization by self-reported race and genetic ancestry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many allergic conditions occur more frequently in African American patients when compared with white patients; however, it is not known whether this represents genetic predisposition or disparate environmental exposures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to assess the relationship of self-reported race and genetic ancestry to allergic sensitization.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 601 women enrolled in a population-based cohort study whose self-reported race was African American or white. Genetic ancestry was estimated by using markers that differentiate West African and European ancestry. We assessed the relationship between allergic sensitization (defined as > or =1 allergen-specific IgE results) and both self-reported race and genetic ancestry. Regression models adjusted for sociodemographic variables, environmental exposures, and location of residence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average proportion of West African ancestry in African American participants was 0.69, whereas the mean proportion of European ancestry in white participants was 0.79. Self-reported African American race was associated with allergic sensitization when compared with those who reported being white (adjusted odds ratio, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.22-3.93), even after adjusting for other variables. Genetic ancestry was not significantly associated with allergic sensitization after accounting for location of residence (adjusted odds ratio, 2.09 for urban vs suburban residence; 95% CI, 1.32-3.31).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported race and location of residence appeared to be more important predictors of allergic sensitization when compared with genetic ancestry, suggesting that the disparity in allergic sensitization by race might be primarily a result of environmental factors rather than genetic differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Research Epidemiology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Mich.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif; Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.
authors.forename: Esteban G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Burchard
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.
authors.forename: Shweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choudhry
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Research Epidemiology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Mich.
authors.forename: Christine C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Ga.
authors.forename: Dennis R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Ownby
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Mich.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Favro
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akana
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.
authors.forename: Pui-Yan
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Research Epidemiology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Mich.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krajenta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Research Epidemiology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Mich.
authors.forename: Suzanne L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Havstad
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Research Epidemiology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Mich.
authors.forename: Christine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif; Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.
authors.forename: Max A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Seibold
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa.
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Shriver
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Research Epidemiology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Mich; Center for Health Services Research, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Mich; Department of Medicine, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Mich. Electronic address: kwillia5@hfhs.org.
authors.forename: L Keoki
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000485:Allergens; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000208:ethnology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013383:Suburban Population; D014505:Urban Population; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E