Dissociation between the prevalence of atopy and allergic disease in rural China among children and adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The prevalence of allergic diseases is increasing worldwide, but the reasons are not well understood. Previous studies suggest that this trend might be associated with lifestyle and urbanization.

Objective

We sought to describe patterns of sensitization and allergic disease in an unselected agricultural Chinese population.

Methods

The data were derived from a community-based twin study in Anqing, China. Skin prick tests were performed to foods and aeroallergens. Atopy was defined as sensitization to 1 or more allergens. Allergic disease was ascertained by means of self-report. The analysis was stratified by sex and age (children [11-17 years] and adults [>or=18 years]) and included 1059 same-sex twin pairs.

Results

Of 2118 subjects, 57.6% were male (

SUBMITTER: Kim JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2747487 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature