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School education and allergic sensitization in adults
T Schäfer1, S Ruhdorfer, L Weigl
1Institute of Social Medicine, Medical University Lübeck, Beckergrube 43047, 23552 Lübeck, Germany.
Allergy
|December 12, 2001
Summary
Higher education levels correlate with increased allergic sensitization in adults. This study found a clear link between years of school graduation and positive results in skin prick tests (SPT) and allergen-specific IgE (RAST) tests for common airborne allergens.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Allergy and Immunology
Background:
- Previous research suggests a link between socioeconomic status (SES) and atopy, primarily in children.
- Studies often focused on atopic diseases and parental SES, leaving a gap in adult population data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between allergic sensitization and SES in adults.
- To determine if socioeconomic factors influence allergic sensitization in an adult population-based cohort.
Main Methods:
- A population-based, nested case-control study design was employed.
- Standardized interviews and allergic sensitization assessments using skin prick tests (SPT) and allergen-specific IgE (RAST) were conducted.
- Data from 1537 adults were analyzed, with a representative base of 4178 adults for prevalence estimation.
Main Results:
- A continuous increase in SPT and RAST reactivity was observed with higher levels of school graduation.
- Odds ratios for SPT and RAST reactivity remained significant across increasing education categories after controlling for age, sex, and parental atopy history.
- The prevalence of SPT reactivity was 37.3% and RAST reactivity was 50.2% among the study participants.
Conclusions:
- Adult allergic sensitization to common aeroallergens demonstrates a significant and linear association with educational attainment.
- Higher levels of education are linked to increased prevalence of allergic sensitization, as measured by SPT and RAST.
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