Prevalence Patterns of Allergen Sensitization in Different Regions,
Sexes, Ages and Seasons in Mainland China: A Four-year Multicenter Study
Abstract
Background: The proportion of the population with allergic diseases has
increased rapidly in recent decades. Studies on the prevalence of
allergens contribute to the treatment and prevention of allergic
diseases. Although many studies have been published on the prevalence of
allergens in China, there are limited studies on the geographic
distribution of allergens. Objective: The aim of this study was to
explore the prevalence patterns of sensitization to allergens among
patients with allergic diseases in all the seven geographic regions of
mainland China. Methods: A large epidemiological study was conducted on
the prevalence patterns of serum allergen-specific IgE (sIgE)
sensitization to the four most common food allergens and five
aeroallergens among 44156 patients with allergic symptoms from 2015 to
2018. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test, and descriptive
statistics, forest plots and geographic heatmaps. Results: First, house
dust mites were the allergen with the highest prevalence of
sensitization in all seven regions, with the highest in South China
(40.79%) and the lowest prevalence in Northeast China (11.21%). The
prevalence of allergens varied in different regions and seasons. Second,
the prevalence of sensitization was significantly higher among male than
female subjects. Third, except for egg whites and milk, which had the
highest positive rates in children, sensitization to other allergens
tended to be the highest in teenagers and young adults. Conclusions: Our
findings could help clinical staff apply effective treatment to unique
patient groups and direct researchers to conduct deeper studies on the
epidemiology of allergic diseases.