The Prevalence of Allergic Diseases in Poland – the Results of the PMSEAD Study in Relation to Gender Differences

Abstract

Background. Males and females exhibit different susceptibility to allergic diseases. Objectives. The aim of the study was to evaluate gender-related differences in the prevalence of allergic diseases in Poland. Material and Methods. To evaluate this problem, data from the Polish Multicenter Study of the Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases (PMSEAD) was analyzed. There were assessed 16,238 individuals, aged 3 to 80 years, among them 12,970 adults and 3,268 children. Results. In adults the prevalence of asthma was 5.4%, seasonal allergic rhinitis 8.5%, persistent allergic rhinitis 3.0%, atopic dermatitis 1.6%, contact dermatitis 2.0%, and drug allergy 8.6%. In children asthma was diagnosed in 8.6% of the individuals assessed, seasonal allergic rhinitis in 8.6%, persistent allergic rhinitis in 2.1%, atopic dermatitis in 4.7%, contact dermatitis in 1.1% and drug allergy in 8.9%. Among the children in the sample, significantly higher prevalence rates were found in boys than in girls for asthma (10.9% vs. 6.3%; OR = 1.81; p < 0.001), seasonal allergic rhinitis (9.8% vs 7.4%; OR = 1.37, p = 0.018) and persistent allergic rhinitis (2.6% vs. 1.5%; OR = 1.74, p = 0.029). When comparing the differences by gender among adults, there was a lower proportion of male than female subjects suffering from asthma (4.9% vs. 5.8%; OR = 0.83, p = 0.018), seasonal allergic rhinitis (7.6% vs. 9.3%; OR = 0.81, p = 0.001), atopic dermatitis (1.1% vs. 2.0%; OR = 0.53, p < 0.001), contact dermatitis (1.1% vs. 2.8%; OR = 0.39; p < 0.001) and drug allergy (5.1% vs. 11.6%; OR = 0.41, p < 0.001). Conclusions. The opposite susceptibility to allergic diseases among children and adults may indicate that sex hormones play an important role in this phenomenon (Adv Clin Exp Med 2014, 23, 5, 757-762).

The Impact of Sex and Age on the Prevalence of Clinically Relevant Sensitization and Asymptomatic Sensitization in the General Population

“…Low levels of estrogen could be a limiting factor in the clinical expression of allergy in sensitized female individuals, while its high levels could predispose individuals to the clinically manifested symptoms of sensitization. Similar conclusions were drawn by Liebhart et al (2014) from the results of a big epidemiological study. Although both studies have different objectives, their conclusions are concordant.…”

“…Although both studies have different objectives, their conclusions are concordant. Liebhart et al (2014) reported differences in the prevalence of allergic diseases (asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic and contact dermatitis, and drug allergy) at young ages (higher prevalence in boys than girls) and adulthood (higher prevalence in women than men). On the basis of their results, the investigators suggested an influence of sex hormones in the clinical manifestation of their participants’ allergies.…”

Age‐related off‐label use of nasal corticosteroids for allergies is relatively common in Finnish children with asthma

“…The majority (70.5%) of the allergy medication purchases were made in spring and summer. This finding was consistent with the tree and grass pollen seasons in Finland and also supports the fact that seasonal allergic rhinitis is more common than persistent rhinitis in children .…”

Quantitative Ultrasound Measurement at the Hand Phalanges Does Not Reveal Skeletal Disturbances in Children With Bronchial Asthma: A Longitudinal Observation

“…The annual incidence of newly diagnosed bronchial asthma in the pediatric population can differ by geographic region and population density (urban or rural area). In urban regions of Poland, it is estimated at 8 per 1000 with total prevalence of bronchial asthma during childhood and adolescence of approximately 10% to 20% . Over its natural course, bronchial asthma influences the lifestyles of young people through the limited physical effort tolerance and diminished physical activity.…”

“…In urban regions of Poland, it is estimated at 8 per 1000 with total prevalence of bronchial asthma during childhood and adolescence of approximately 10% to 20%. 1,2 Over its natural course, bronchial asthma influences the lifestyles of young people through the limited physical effort tolerance and diminished physical activity. These lifestyle modifications can result in disturbances in some developmental phenomena: eg, bone mass acquisition as well as qualitative aspects of skeletal development.…”