title: Allergy in urban elderly population living in Campania region (Southern Italy). A multicenter study.
abstract: Given the increasing life expectancy observed in Western countries, there is a marked interest to know more about how aging could influence respiratory health. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence, clinical characteristics and age of onset of allergic sensitization and clinical symptoms in a sample of atopic elders living in Campania region area (Southern Italy). Fourteen Allergy units or Centres examined a total of 462 patients. In this context 215 (46.53%) had positive skin prick tests (SPTs) to at least one allergen and were diagnosed with respiratory allergy. Parietaria represents the most common sensitizing agent in elders living in Campania region, followed by dust mites, grass pollen and Olea europaea. A relatively high percentage of atopic subjects suffered from respiratory symptoms at a fairly advanced age, namely 8.3% at 60-64 years, 10.2% at 65-70 and 5.7% at > 70 years. In conclusion, the prevalence and clinical significance of airway allergic sensitization in the elderly living in Campania region is more significant than expected in latter stages of life. Physicians should not neglect the role of atopy as a risk factor for the onset of allergic respiratory symptoms even in elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, Haematology and Oncology, Division of Pulmonology and Allergology, High Speciality "A. Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples, Italy. Phone: +39 081 747 3335-4-3 Fax: + 39 081 747 3331 E-mail: gennaro.liccardi@tin.it.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liccardi
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine Unit. ASL (district 66), Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Allergy Unit, G. Da Procida Hospital, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berra
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Presidio Sanitario Polispecialistico "Loreto Crispi", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciccarelli
authors.affiliation: Allergy Center, Division of Internal Medicine, Ospedali Riuniti Penisola Sorrentina, Sorrento, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cutajar
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Disease, "Federico II" University, AO "Dei Colli", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Amato
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, Haematology and Oncology, Division of Pulmonology and Allergology, High Speciality "A. Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, High Speciality "San Giuseppe Moscati" Hospital, Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gargano
authors.affiliation: Respiratory physiopathology and allergy, High Speciality Center, "Mauro Scarlato" Hospital, Scafati, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giannattasio
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, High Speciality "Sant'Anna and San Sebastiano" Hospital, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology. "G. Fucito" Hospital and University Hospital, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lo Schiavo
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, ASL (Sanitary District 12), Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Madonna
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology. "G. Fucito" Hospital and University Hospital, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montera
authors.affiliation: Private Center for Allergy Diagnosis, Ischia, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parente
authors.affiliation: Unit of Allergology, Division of Internal Medicine, "Fatebenefratelli" Hospital, Benevento, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pedicini
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology. "G. Fucito" Hospital and University Hospital, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pio
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, Haematology and Oncology, Division of Pulmonology and Allergology, High Speciality "A. Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, Haematology and Oncology, Division of Pulmonology and Allergology, High Speciality "A. Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salzillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Disease, "Federico II" University, AO "Dei Colli", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stanziola
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vatrella
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, Haematology and Oncology, Division of Pulmonology and Allergology, High Speciality "A. Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Manzi
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Department of Immunology, Allergy and Respiratory Diseases. University Hospital Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Bilò
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014504:Urban Health
keywords: Campania region; allergic rhinitis; allergic sensitization; allergy; bronchial asthma; elderly; hypersensitivity