Population-specific patterns of IgE sensitization in Northwest China

Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergic diseases are a major and growing global health burden, with sensitization patterns varying by region and population. Comprehensive data from Northwest China remain limited. This study aimed to characterize population-specific IgE sensitization profiles in this region and explore their associations with sex and age.

We retrospectively analyzed 13,123 patients with allergic diseases at a large tertiary center in Northwest China from January 2017 to June 2024. Demographic data, clinical diagnoses, and serum allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) levels measured by ImmunoCAP were collected. Sensitization was defined as sIgE ≥ 0.35 kUA/L. Statistical analyses included Chi-Square tests and Spearman correlation.

The cohort included 5,928 males (45.18%) and 7,195 females (54.82%), with children under 5-years constituting the largest subgroup (23.04%). Males had significantly higher sensitization rates than females for both food allergens (p < 0.001) and inhalant allergens (p < 0.001). Food allergen sensitization peaked in children under 10-years (6.69%-8.22%), while inhalant allergen sensitization peaked in the 10-20 years age group (10.92%). Among tested allergens, peanut induced the highest reactivity level, and egg white showed the highest disease-specific sensitization rate in asthma patients (19.57%).

This study reveals distinct, population-specific IgE sensitization patterns in Northwest China, significantly influenced by sex and age. Findings highlight a higher sensitization burden in males and an age-dependent shift from food to inhalant allergen predominance. These insights support a stratified, precision-based approach to allergy diagnosis and management tailored to regional allergen exposures.