Sex-specific differences in allergic sensitization to house dust mites: a meta-analysis
| Autor: | Angelina Bockelbrink, Audrey DunnGalvin, Thomas Keil, Stefan N. Willich, Catarina Almqvist, Marc Nocon, Klaus Goldhahn |
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| Rok vydání: | 2009 |
| Předmět: |
Adult
Male Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine China Allergy medicine.medical_specialty Adolescent Immunology Population Prevalence Allergic sensitization Sex Factors Risk Factors Internal medicine Hypersensitivity medicine Animals Humans Immunology and Allergy Gabon Child education Sensitization Aged Asthma Aged 80 and over House dust mite education.field_of_study biology business.industry Pyroglyphidae Environmental Exposure Environmental exposure Middle Aged medicine.disease biology.organism_classification United States Europe medicine.anatomical_structure Child Preschool Female business New Zealand |
| Zdroj: | Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 102:487-494 |
| ISSN: | 1081-1206 |
| Popis: | Background The prevalence of allergic airway diseases in childhood is higher in boys than in girls but switches toward a female predominance in adolescents and adults. The sex-specific prevalence of allergic sensitization to 1 of the most common allergens worldwide, house dust mite (HDM), has not been examined systematically by age group and species. Objective To systematically review the literature to examine sex-specific differences in the prevalence of allergic sensitization to HDM. Methods On the basis of a systematic MEDLINE search for population-based studies published between 1990 and 2007, we conducted meta-analyses of male to female ratios for sensitization to 2 different species of HDMs ( Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae ) separately for children and adults. Results We included data from 7,822 children and 18,522 adults from 15 studies. The prevalence of sensitization to D pteronyssinus was significantly higher in boys vs girls (male to female ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-1.71) and in men vs women (male to female ratio, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.22-1.61). For sensitization to D farinae, the significant male predominance in adults was even more pronounced (male to female ratio, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.37-2.79), but there were no sex-specific differences in children (male to female ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.56-1.46). Conclusions In adults, the male predominance in sensitization to HDM seems to be contrary to the prevalence of allergic airway symptoms, which has a female predominance. The male predominance is even higher in allergic sensitization to D farinae than to D pteronyssinus . Further research is necessary regarding sex-specific differences in allergy and asthma. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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