title: Prevalence and predictors of food allergy in Canada: a focus on vulnerable populations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies suggest that individuals of low education and/or income, new Canadians (immigrated <10 years ago), and individuals of Aboriginal identity may have fewer food allergies than the general population. However, given the difficulty in recruiting such populations (hereafter referred to as vulnerable populations), by using conventional survey methodologies, the prevalence of food allergy among these populations in Canada has not been estimated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of food allergy among vulnerable populations in Canada, to compare with the nonvulnerable populations and to identify demographic characteristics predictive of food allergy.
  
  
  METHODS
  By using 2006 Canadian Census data, postal codes with high proportions of vulnerable populations were identified and households were randomly selected to participate in a telephone survey. Information on food allergies and demographics was collected. Prevalence estimates were weighted by using Census data to account for the targeted sampling. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of food allergy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 12,762 eligible households contacted, 5734 households completed the questionnaire (45% response rate). Food allergy was less common among adults without postsecondary education versus those with postsecondary education (6.4% [95% CI, 5.5%-7.3%] vs 8.9% [95% CI, 7.7%-10%]) and new Canadians versus those born in Canada (3.2% [95% CI, 2.2%-4.3%] vs 8.2% [95% CI, 7.4%-9.1%]). There was no difference in prevalence between those of low and of high income or those with and without Aboriginal identity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analysis of our data suggests that individuals of low education and new Canadians self-report fewer allergies, which may be due to genetics, environment, lack of appropriate health care, or lack of awareness of allergies, which reduces self-report.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: liannesoller@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lianne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soller
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben-Shoshan
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knoll
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fragapane
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: St Pierre
authors.affiliation: Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Vieille
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Kathi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Division of Rheumatology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Ann E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Aboriginal identity; Food allergy; Low education; Low income; New Canadians; Perceived food allergy; Probable food allergy; Self-reported food allergy; Vulnerable populations