title: Characteristics of allergic sensitization among asthmatic adults older than 55 years: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2006.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Approximately 60% to 80% of children and young adults with asthma are sensitized to at least one allergen. In contrast, previous studies from specific subpopulations of older patients with asthma suggest that allergic sensitization is significantly lower in this age group. The prevalence and patterns of IgE-mediated sensitization have not been compared among a broad population of younger and older patients with asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and patterns of IgE-mediated sensitization among a broad population of younger and older patients with asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2006 to compare IgE-mediated sensitization rates between younger (20-40 years) and older (≥55 years) patients with current asthma. Atopy was defined as a detectable serum IgE to at least 1 allergen in a panel of 19 allergens. The associations among sensitization, current asthma, and asthma control measures (health care use and symptoms) were examined by logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a group of 2,573 patients, either 20 to 40 years of age or 55 years or older, 108 (6.7%) and 43 (4.5%) patients with current asthma were identified, respectively. Allergic sensitization rates among the adults with asthma differed only moderately and not statistically significantly between the age groups; 75.4% of the younger and 65.2% of the older asthmatic patients were sensitized to at least 1 allergen. The association between sensitization and markers of asthma control did not appear to differ among the age groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergic sensitization in older patients with asthma may be more common than previously reported.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA. paula.busse@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Paula J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Busse
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.forename: Paivi M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Salo
authors.forename: Darryl C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Zeldin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D051381:Rats; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
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