Epidemiology of IgE-Dependent Allergic Diseases in Elderly Patients in Poland. Issue 5 (September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bozek, Andrzej; Jarzab, Jerzy
• Is Part Of: American journal of rhinology & allergy. Volume 27:Issue 5(2013)
• Page Start: e140
• Page End: e145
• Publication Date: 2013-09
• Subjects: Nose -- Periodicals; Allergy -- Periodicals; 616.21005
• DOI: 10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3920
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1945-8924

Abstract

Background: There is a growing allergy problem in elderly patients. The epidemiology of atopic bronchial asthma (BA), allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis (AD) was analyzed in an elderly Polish population. Methods: Subject recruitment was conducted at 16 sites representative of Polish rural and urban areas, and 7124 subjects, including 4176 women with a mean age of 67.5 ± 84.9 years and 2948 men with a mean age of 66.1 ± 7.2 years, were screened. Medical examinations, an original questionnaire, skin-prick testing (SPT) with common aeroallergens, and appropriate serum-specific IgE assays were performed. Results: Suspicion of atopy was diagnosed in 1900 of the 7124 analyzed patients (26.7%), including 1117 women (26.7% of women) and 783 men (26.6% of men). The average morbidity associated with age and sex in this population was 5.9% (95% CI, 5.1–6.4) for BA, 1.6% (95% CI, 15.9–19.3) for AD/eczema, 12.6% (95% CI, 10.8–14.6) for seasonal allergic rhinitis, 17.1% (95% CI, 15.9–19.7) for perennial allergic rhinitis, and 6.4% (95% CI, 5.1–7.3) for polymorphous atopic disease. The most frequent positive results were recorded for the following allergens: mixed grass, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, and Alternaria. Conclusion: This study confirms the high prevalence of allergic rhinitis and BA in elderly Polish patients. These findings are comparable with those involving groups of younger individuals with allergies.