title: Sensitization pattern affects the asthma risk in Finnish adult population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a large global variation in the sensitization pattern and its association with allergic diseases. In temperate and tropical urban environments, mite monosensitization can be the predominant cause of allergic airway diseases, whereas in other environments, polysensitization is more typical. Sensitization to mite allergens associates with asthma. However, it is suggested that mite sensitization might play a minor role in Northern Europe. The aim of the study was to analyze how sensitization pattern affects the asthma risk in Finnish adults, with a special focus on mites.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-based case-control data (N = 523) from Finnish adult asthma patients with one or two matched controls were used. Asthma was diagnosed based on a typical history of asthmatic symptoms and lung function tests. The allergic sensitization was determined based on skin prick test (SPT) of five mites, three molds, and nine other aeroallergens. Information on demographics was obtained by a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of sensitization to any allergen was 55% in the asthma group and 39% in the control group (P = 0.001, OR 2.06, 95% CI = 1.35-3.14). Sensitization to animal dander, pollen, or Aspergillus fumigatus was associated with asthma. Polysensitization to more than one allergen types and the number of SPT-positive reactions associated with asthma, whereas sensitization to only one allergen type was not associated with asthma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The large number of sensitizations to several types of allergens distinguishes subjects with asthma. Mite sensitization had little independent association with asthma in Finland.
authors.affiliation: Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.|Department of Allergy, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toppila-Salmi
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huhtala
authors.affiliation: Allergy Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karjalainen
authors.affiliation: Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.|HUSLAB, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Renkonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mäkelä
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Hjelt Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pekkanen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012306:Risk; D012882:Skin Tests; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: asthma; epidemiology; mite; sensitization; skin prick test