Male sex is strongly associated with IgE-sensitization to airborne but not food allergens: results up to age 24 years from the BAMSE birth cohort

Abstract

Background: Up to half of the population in high-income countries has allergen-specific IgE antibodies. However, data regarding sex differences of IgE-sensitization from childhood to adulthood is limited. Objective: To explore IgE-sensitization to common foods and airborne allergens in relation to sex over time in a population-based cohort followed up to young adulthood. Methods: The Swedish population-based birth cohort BAMSE includes 4089 subjects who have been followed regularly with questionnaires and clinical investigations. A recent 24-year follow-up included 3069 participants (75%). Sera collected at 4, 8, 16 and 24 years were analyzed for IgE-antibodies to 14 common foods and airborne allergens. Results: At 24 years sensitization to foods had decreased compared to previous follow-ups affecting 8.4%, while sensitization to airborne allergens was more common, affecting 42.2%. Male sex was associated with IgE-sensitization to airborne allergens at all ages (overall OR: 1.68, 95% CI 1.46-1.94) while there was no statistically significant association between sex and sensitization to food allergens (overall OR: 1.10, 95% CI 0.93-1.32). Levels of allergen-specific IgE did not differ significantly between males and females for any of the tested foods or airborne allergens at any age, following adjustment for multiple comparisons. Conclusion: IgE-sensitization to airborne allergens increases with age up to young adulthood, whereas sensitization to food allergens seems to level off. Male sex is strongly associated with IgE-sensitization to airborne allergens from early childhood up to young adulthood. In contrast, there is little evidence for associations between sex and IgEsensitization to foods.

Early-life risk factors for reversible and irreversible airflow limitation in young adults: findings from the BAMSE birth cohort

“…However, no selection bias could be identified so far in the BAMSE cohort. 4 In conclusion, this study forwards evidence that among young adults in their 20s, the prevalence was 5.3% for reversible airflow limitation and 2.0% for irreversible airflow limitation. While parental asthma emerges as the only risk factor for development of reversible airflow limitation, the risk factors for development of irreversible airflow limitation were current asthma, childhood respiratory tract infections and asthma, and exposure to air pollution.…”

“…A total of 1932 participants in the population-based birth cohort Barn/Children, Allergy, Milieu, Stockholm, Epidemiology (BAMSE) performed valid pre-BD and post-BD lung function measurements at the 24-year follow-up. 4 5 Lung function was tested according to American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) criteria as previously described. 6 Post-BD lung function was tested 15 min after administration of 400 µg salbutamol.…”

Assessment of chronic bronchitis and risk factors in young adults: results from BAMSE

“…In this project, data from the follow-up of the Swedish population-based birth cohort BAMSE (Swedish abbreviation for Child (Barn), Allergy, Milieu, Stockholm, Epidemiological) were used [ 20 – 22 ]. Between February 1994 and November 1996, 4089 infants from inner-city, urban and suburban districts of Stockholm were included in the cohort.…”

Resolved allergen‐specific IgE sensitization among females and early poly‐sensitization among males impact IgE sensitization up to age 24 years

“…The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions. Natalia Ballardini 1,2,3 Anna Bergström 2,4 Inger Kull 1,3 Catarina Almqvist 5,6 Niklas Andersson 2 Anna Asarnoj 5,7,8 Magnus P. Borres 9…”

“…In the Swedish population-based birth cohort BAMSE (N = 4089), participants have been followed up to young adulthood including collection of blood at ages 4, 8, 16 and 24 years for analysis of specific IgE to 14 common food (peanut, soy, wheat, milk, egg, cod) and airborne (timothy, birch, mugwort, cat, dog, horse, house dust mites and Cladosporium herbarum) allergens. 7 Females (n = 656) and males (n = 570) with complete data on sIgE at all four follow-ups were included for the current study. Any IgE sensitization was defined as sIgE ≥ 0.35 kU A /L to one or more of the tested foods and/or airborne allergens.…”