Place of residence, gender, month of birth and age influence on the concentration of specific IgE antibodies in serum. The Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases in Poland (ECAP survey): part three

Introduction

Epidemiological observations from the last decades demonstrate the rise in the incidence of allergic rhinitis and asthma in developed countries [1]. Asthma appears to be the most common non-infectious chronic disease in young people and it has a significant impact on the quality of their life [2–5]. Therefore, it is remarkably important to find risk factors for allergic rhinitis and asthma. Numerous studies have revealed geographical variations in the prevalence of allergic diseases. The Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases in Poland (ECAP) survey provided information on the epidemiological significance of these diseases in Poland and the great diversity of allergy risk factors [6–9]. The determination of specific IgE in respondents’ serum, a reliable method to evaluate allergic hypersensitivity [10, 11], supplements the results of this survey [12].

Aim

The study aimed to determine the influence of gender, age, and place of residence on the concentration of specific IgE antibodies in serum.

Material and methods

The quantitative data presented in the article were collected as part of the Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases in Poland (ECAP) project and its continuation. The ECAP comprised two main phases: (i) a questionnaire-based study (Computer-Assisted Personal Interview – CAPI); and (ii) a complimentary clinical assessment (spirometry with bronchodilator challenge, skin-prick tests, peak nasal inspiratory flow, and blood sampling for genetic and immune tests). Eighteen thousand six hundred and seventeen individuals from the cities with a population above 150 000 (among them: Warszawa, Wroclaw, Poznan, Katowice – industrialised regions; Gdansk – industrialised region, Baltic Sea coast; Lublin, Bialystok – hardly industrialised regions) and one rural region took part in the study (phase one). The sample was drawn (by the stratified cluster sampling method) from a personal identity number (PESEL) database (maintained by the Minister of Interior and Administration). Four thousand seven hundred and eighty-three respondents were randomly selected and examined by allergists (phase two of the study). Blood from 4077 respondents (seven cities as above and one rural region) was collected, the concentration of IgE antibodies against allergens d1 (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus), e1 (cat dander), g6 (timothy grass), m6 (Alternaria alternata) was determined in serum, using the reference method CAP (Phadia reagents, UniCAP 100 laboratory system). The concentration of IgE antibodies of at least 0.35 IU/ml (classes 1–6) was considered positive. The IgE-determined respondents included 2223 females (urban – 2044, rural – 179) and 1854 males (urban – 1704, rural – 150). 1026 respondents (urban – 924, rural – 102) were aged 6–7 years, 1153 respondents (urban – 1051, rural – 102) were aged 13–14 years, 1898 respondents (urban – 1773, rural – 125) were adults. An exact methodology of the ECAP survey is described at www.ecap.pl [12] and in the Polish Journal of Allergology [13].

The results of IgE antibodies determination were correlated to answers to these questions: Study area? Gender? Date of birth (month)? Date of birth (year)? How many people are in the household? How big is the surface area of the household (house) in square meters? How many older brothers or sisters do you have? How many younger brothers or sisters do you have? Do you have a twin?

The study was approved by the institutional Bioethics Committee.

The study was performed as part of the research grant from the National Science Centre (Poland), 2011/01/B/NZ7/05289.

Results

Data concerning the rural region and each of the seven cities were analysed. Except for D. pteronyssinus, IgE antibodies are less frequently detected in respondents living in the country (cat dander p < 0.05, timothy grass p < 0.005, A. alternata p < 0.05), particularly when compared to respondents living in cities of industrialised regions (cat dander p < 0.005, timothy grass p < 0.005, A. alternata p < 0.05). IgE antibodies are less frequently detected in respondents living in cities of hardly industrialised regions than in respondents living in cities of industrialised regions (D. pteronyssinus p < 0.05, cat dander p < 0.01). They are more frequently detected in respondents living in Gdansk than in respondents living in the remaining cities (D. pteronyssinus p < 0.001, cat dander p < 0.005, timothy grass p < 0.01) (Table 1).

Moreover, IgE antibodies are more frequently detected in men than in women (D. pteronyssinus p < 0.001, cat dander p < 0.001, timothy grass p < 0.001, A. alternata p < 0.005) (Table 2).

Data concerning every group of respondents born in the same month of the year were also analysed. IgE antibodies are more frequently detected in respondents born in May-July than in respondents born in the remaining months (timothy grass p < 0.005, A. alternata p < 0.005, any allergen at all p < 0.001) and they are less frequently detected in respondents born in August-October than in respondents born in remaining months (timothy grass p < 0.005, A. alternata p < 0.05, any allergen at all p < 0.005) (Table 3).

Then, data concerning groups of respondents of similar age were analysed. IgE antibodies are less frequently detected in respondents aged 6–7 years (except for A. alternata) than in remaining respondents (D. pteronyssinus p < 0.05, cat dander p < 0.01, timothy grass p < 0.001) and they are more frequently detected in respondents aged 13–14 years than in remaining respondents (D. pteronyssinus p < 0.001, cat dander p < 0.001, timothy grass p < 0.001, A. alternata p < 0.001). IgE antibodies are more frequently detected in respondents aged 18–25 years than in remaining respondents (D. pteronyssinus p < 0.1, cat dander p < 0.05, timothy grass p < 0.001) and they are less frequently detected in respondents aged over 25 years than in remaining respondents (D. pteronyssinus p < 0.001, cat dander p < 0.01, timothy grass p < 0.05, A. alternata p < 0.001) (Table 4).

Discussion

The ECAP survey provided information on the epidemiological significance of allergic diseases in Poland and the great diversity of allergy risk factors. The determination of specific IgE in respondents’ serum, a reliable method to evaluate allergic hypersensitivity, supplements results of the ECAP study. Gender, age, and place of residence are among factors that seem to influence the specific IgE antibodies in serum.

Except for D. pteronyssinus, in our study IgE antibodies are less frequently detected in respondents living in the country, particularly when compared to respondents living in cities of industrialised regions; IgE antibodies are less frequently detected in respondents living in cities of hardly industrialised regions than in those living in cities of industrialised regions. These probably result from the influence of factors characteristic for the urban environment, which increase hypersensitivity to allergens, such as exhaust particles, use of cooking appliances with municipal natural gas [15, 16]. In the ECAP survey, respondents living in the country developed asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis less frequently than respondents living in cities [6, 12, 13]. The obtained results correspond with the results of other authors [17]. Many epidemiology studies are showing an association between the prevalence of allergies and air pollutants, which seems to be one of the contributing factors [18–21]. In a study by Burney et al., the presence of at least one positive specific IgE ranged from 16% in Albacete (Spain) to 45% in Christchurch (New Zealand), the geometric mean total serum IgE varied from 13 kU/l in Reykjavik (Iceland) to 62 kU/L in Bordeaux (France) [22].

Relating to an allergen of D. pteronyssinus, IgE antibodies are not less frequently detected in respondents living in the country, probably since: 1) they wash duvets and pillows less frequently than respondents living in cities (duvet from a bed where the respondent sleeps: rural 34.35%, urban 41.46%, p < 0.001; pillow from a bed where the respondent sleeps: rural 25.84%, urban 37.19%, p < 0.001), 2) they have upholstered furniture less frequently than respondents living in cities (in a room which the respondent uses most at home during the day: rural 50.76%, urban 68.54%, p < 0.001; in a room where the respondent sleeps: rural 50.46%, urban 66.70%, p < 0.001); carpets and rugs capture a portion of mite, epidermal, mould allergens located at home, wherefore absence of a carpet or rug causes greater stimulation of an immune system by these allergens – as a consequence, IgE antibodies are the most frequently detected [23].

IgE antibodies are more frequently detected in men than in women. This can be partly attributed to the pro-versus anti-allergic effects of female versus male sex hormones. In a study by Salo et al., male sex was consistently associated with IgE-mediated sensitization [24]. In a study by Uekert et al., boys demonstrated increased rates of sensitization and total IgE levels as compared to girls [25]. In a study by Omenaas et al., the total IgE level and prevalence of specific IgE antibodies against house dust mite and cat allergens were higher in men than in women; male sex was an independent predictor for having one or more of the five specific IgE antibodies [26]. In a study by Kerkhof et al., total IgE was higher in men [27], while in a study by Haselkorn et al., total serum IgE levels were higher in boys [28]. In a study by Grigoreas et al., non-atopic males had higher mean IgE levels than non-atopic females [29]. Nickel et al. demonstrated that total IgE percentile values were higher for boys than for girls [30]. In a study by Johnson et al., total IgE was higher in boys at 2 and 4 years of age [31].

IgE antibodies are more frequently detected in respondents born in May – July and less frequently detected in respondents born between August and October. This may result from the influence of distinct seasonal allergens within the first months of life and/or in the course of a foetal period. Furthermore, some allergens might have, within the first months of life, a protective effect on allergic diseases [32, 33]. Baldaçara et al. demonstrated that owning fur-bearing pets in a rural environment was associated with a distinct preventive effect, despite positive skin-prick test results [34].

IgE antibodies are more frequently detected in respondents aged 13–14 years and 18–25 years, less frequently detected in respondents aged 6–7 years (except for A. alternata) and over 25 years. In a study by Kerkhof et al., the prevalence of specific IgE to aeroallergens decrease with increasing age, in 20–70-year-old subjects [27]. In a study by Park et al., among subjects aged ≥ 10 years sensitization to Dermatophagoides farinae was more likely in young ones, and sensitization to dog allergens was significantly associated with young age [35]. In a study by Omenaas et al., specific IgE levels decreased with increasing age, in 18–73-year-old adults; young age was an independent predictor for having one or more of the five specific IgE antibodies [26]. Ciprandi et al. showed that elderly subjects (over 65 years old) tended to have lower specific IgE levels than younger adults (18–65 years old) [36]. In a study by Haselkorn et al., total serum IgE levels in patients aged 6–17 were the highest at the age of 12–14 [28]. Nickel et al. demonstrated that total IgE percentiles increased steadily from birth to the age of 10 [30], while in a study by Johnson et al., total IgE increased with age from birth to 4 years of age [31]. Relating to an allergen of A. alternata, IgE antibodies are not less frequently detected in respondents aged 6–7 years than in remaining respondents. In a study by Moral et al., sensitization to Alternaria occured at an early age but stabilized before that caused by other aeroallergens [37].

Conclusions

IgE antibodies are less frequently detected in respondents living in the country, particularly when compared to those living in cities of industrialised regions, and are less frequently detected in respondents living in cities of hardly industrialised regions than in respondents living in cities of industrialised regions.

IgE antibodies are more frequently detected in men than in women, which can be partly attributed to the pro- versus anti-allergic effects of sex hormones.

IgE antibodies are more frequently detected in respondents born in May-July and less frequently detected in respondents born in August-October, which may result from the influence of distinct seasonal allergens within the first months of life and/or in the course of a foetal period.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.