title: Prevalence of contact allergy in the general population in different European regions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Population-based studies about contact allergy are scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To obtain reliable estimates of the prevalence of contact allergy in the general population in Europe.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of a random sample from the general population, aged 18-74 years, in five different European countries (Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Portugal). In total, 12 377 subjects were interviewed and a random sample (n = 3119) patch tested to TRUE Test panels 1-3 and Fragrance Mix (FM) II, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC) and sesquiterpene lactone mix. A positive patch test reaction is considered as contact allergy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 27·0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 25·5-28·5] had at least one positive reaction to an allergen of the European baseline series, with a significantly higher prevalence in women than in men. The highest age-standardized prevalences (≥ 1%) were found for nickel (14·5%, 95% CI 13·2-15·8), thiomersal (5·0%, 95% CI 4·2-5·8), cobalt (2·2%, 95% CI 1·7-2·7), FM II (1·9%, 95% CI 1·5-2·5), FM I (1·8%, 95% CI 1·4-2·3), HICC (1·4%, 95% CI 1·0-1·9), p-tert-butylphenol formaldehyde resin (1·3%, 95% CI 0·9-1·7) and para-phenylenediamine (1·0%, 95% CI 0·6-1·3). Only nickel and thiomersal showed a statistically significantly different prevalence for contact allergy among the different European populations. Subjects reporting contact dermatitis in their lifetime (age-standardized prevalence 15·1%, 95% CI 13·8-16·3) had an increased risk for contact allergy (odds ratio 1·9, 95% CI 1·5-2·5). The risk of having a contact allergy was not increased in those with atopic dermatitis (prevalence 7·6%, 95% CI 6·7-8·6; odds ratio 1·0, 95% CI 0·7-1·4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contact allergy to at least one allergen of the European baseline series was diagnosed in more than one-quarter of the general European population. Therefore measures to improve the primary prevention of contact allergy have to be enforced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, University of Heidelberg, Thibautstraße 3, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Diepgen
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, University of Heidelberg, Thibautstraße 3, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Ofenloch
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, University Hospital Malmö, S-20502, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruze
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bertuccio
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Azienda Ospedaliera papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Centro Studi GISED - FROM Presidio Ospedaliero Matteo Rota, Via Garibaldi 13/15, 24122, Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cazzaniga
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental, Dermatology Unit, State University Hospital, P.O. Box 30.001, NL-9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: P-J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Coenraads
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Dermatologie und dermatologische Allergologie, Klinikum der FSU Jena, Erfurter Str. 35, D-07740, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elsner
authors.affiliation: Clinica de Dermatologia, Hospital da Universidade Praceta Motal Pinto, Rua Infanta D.Maria, n 30-A-3D, P-3000-075, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goncalo
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Malmö, S-20502, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Å
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Azienda Ospedaliera papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Centro Studi GISED - FROM Presidio Ospedaliero Matteo Rota, Via Garibaldi 13/15, 24122, Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Naldi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens