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Racial disparities in allergic outcomes in African Americans emerge as early as age 2 years

G Wegienka1, S Havstad, C L M Joseph

  • 1Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA. gwegien1@hfhs.org

Clinical and Experimental Allergy : Journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|August 23, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Racial disparities in allergic diseases are evident by age 2. African American children show higher rates of allergic outcomes like atopic dermatitis and positive allergy tests compared to White children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Environmental Health
  • Health Disparities Research

Background:

  • Racial disparities in allergic disease outcomes are well-documented, with African Americans experiencing disproportionately higher rates.
  • Existing research suggests significant differences in allergic disease prevalence between racial groups.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and extent of racial disparities in allergic disease outcomes at age 2 years.
  • To examine early-life indicators of allergic conditions in a diverse urban birth cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A racially diverse birth cohort in the Detroit metropolitan area was studied.
  • Standardized physician exams, including skin prick testing for 10 allergens and parental interviews, were conducted at age 2.
  • Data collected included atopic dermatitis (AD) assessment, wheezing history, specific IgE, and total IgE levels.

Main Results:

  • African American children (n=466) were more likely than White children (n=223) to have at least one positive skin prick test (21.7% vs. 11.0%, P=0.001).
  • Higher rates of atopic dermatitis (27.0% vs. 13.5%, P<0.001) and wheezing (44.9% vs. 36.0%, P=0.03) were observed in African American children.
  • African American children also showed higher total IgE levels (geometric mean 23.4 IU/mL vs. 16.7 IU/mL, P=0.004), with disparities persisting after adjusting for socioeconomic and environmental factors.

Conclusions:

  • Racial disparities in allergic diseases emerge as early as age 2 years.
  • These findings underscore the need to investigate the prenatal period and early life for sources contributing to these disparities.
  • Early intervention and research focusing on the first two years of life are crucial for addressing allergy disparities.
Abstract

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