Children of Asian ethnicity in Australia have higher risk of food allergy and early‐onset eczema than those in Singapore. Issue 10 (7th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Suaini, Noor H. A.; Loo, Evelyn Xiu‐Ling; Peters, Rachel L.; Yap, Gaik Chin; Allen, Katrina J.; Van Bever, Hugo; Martino, David J.; Goh, Anne Eng Neo; Dharmage, Shyamali C.; Colega, Marjorelee T.; Chong, Mary Foong Fong; Ponsonby, Anne‐Louise; Tan, Kok Hian; Tang, Mimi L. K.; Godfrey, Keith M.; Lee, Bee Wah; Shek, Lynette Pei‐Chi; Koplin, Jennifer J.; Tham, Elizabeth Huiwen
• Is Part Of: Allergy. Volume 76:Issue 10(2021)
• Page Start: 3171
• Page End: 3182
• Publication Date: 2021-04-07
• Subjects: Asian children -- eczema -- food allergy -- GUSTO -- healthnuts; Allergy -- Periodicals; 616.97
• DOI: 10.1111/all.14823
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0105-4538

Abstract

Abstract: Background: In Western countries, Asian children have higher food allergy risk than Caucasian children. The early‐life environmental exposures for this discrepancy are unclear. We aimed to compare prevalence of food allergy and associated risk factors between Asian children in Singapore and Australia. Methods: We studied children in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) birth cohort (n = 878) and children of Asian ancestry in the HealthNuts cohort (n = 314). Food allergy was defined as a positive SPT ≥3 mm to egg or peanut AND either a convincing history of IgE‐mediated reaction at 18 months (GUSTO) or a positive oral food challenge at 14‐18 months (HealthNuts). Eczema was defined as parent‐reported doctor diagnosis. Results: Food allergy prevalence was 1.1% in Singapore and 15.0% in Australia ( P <0.001). Egg introduction was more often delayed (>10 months) in Singapore (63.5%) than Australia (16.3%; P <0.001). Prevalence of early‐onset eczema (<6 months) was lower in Singapore (8.4%) than Australia (30.5%) ( P <0.001). Children with early‐onset eczema were more likely to have food allergy than those without eczema in Australia [aOR 5.11 (2.34‐11.14); P <0.001] and Singapore [aOR4.00 (0.62‐25.8); P = 0.145]. Conclusions: Among Asian children, prevalence of early‐onset eczema and food allergy was higher in Australia than Singapore. Further research with larger sample sizes and harmonized definitions of food allergy between cohorts is required to confirm and extend these findings. Research on environmental factors influencing eczema onset in Australia and Singapore may aid understanding of food allergy pathogenesis in different parts of the world. Abstract : Prevalence of food allergy and early‐onset eczema is lower in Singaporean Asian children than Australian Asian children. Only 5.7% of Singaporean children with early‐onset eczema also have food allergy compared to 32.6% of Australian children of Asian descent. More Australian Asian children have delayed peanut consumption and higher maternal consumption of egg and peanut during pregnancy while more Singaporean Asians had siblings, exposure to tobacco smoking and delayed egg consumption.