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Spolidoro GCI, Amera YT, Ali MM, Nyassi S, Lisik D, Ioannidou A, Rovner G, Khaleva E, Venter C, van Ree R, Worm M, Vlieg-Boerstra B, Sheikh A, Muraro A, Roberts G, Nwaru BI. Frequency of food allergy in Europe: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Allergy 2023; 78:351-368. [PMID: 36271775 PMCID: PMC10099188 DOI: 10.1111/all.15560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Food allergy (FA) is increasingly reported in Europe, however, the latest prevalence estimates were based on studies published a decade ago. The present work provides the most updated estimates of the prevalence and trends of FA in Europe. Databases were searched for studies published between 2012 and 2021, added to studies published up to 2012. In total, 110 studies were included in this update. Most studies were graded as moderate risk of bias. Pooled lifetime and point prevalence of self-reported FA were 19.9% (95% CI 16.6-23.3) and 13.1% (95% CI 11.3-14.8), respectively. The point prevalence of sensitization based on specific IgE (slgE) was 16.6% (95% CI 12.3-20.8), skin prick test (SPT) 5.7% (95% CI 3.9-7.4), and positive food challenge 0.8% (95% CI 0.5-0.9). While lifetime prevalence of self-reported FA and food challenge positivity only slightly changed, the point prevalence of self-reported FA, sIgE and SPT positivity increased from previous estimates. This may reflect a real increase, increased awareness, increased number of foods assessed, or increased number of studies from countries with less data in the first review. Future studies require rigorous designs and implementation of standardized methodology in diagnosing FA, including use of double-blinded placebo-controlled food challenge to minimize potential biases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia C I Spolidoro
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Yohannes Tesfaye Amera
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mohamed Mustafa Ali
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sungkutu Nyassi
- Krefting Research Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Daniil Lisik
- Krefting Research Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Athina Ioannidou
- Krefting Research Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Graciela Rovner
- ACT Institutet Sweden, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Carina Venter
- Section of Allergy and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Children's Hospital Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Ronald van Ree
- Department of Experimental Immunology and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Margitta Worm
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Dermatology, Allergy and Venerology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Berber Vlieg-Boerstra
- Department of Pediatrics, OLVG Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, the Netherlands
| | - Aziz Sheikh
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Antonella Muraro
- Department of Mother and Child Health, The Referral Centre for Food Allergy Diagnosis and Treatment Veneto Region, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Graham Roberts
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,David Hide Asthma and Allergy Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, UK
| | - Bright I Nwaru
- Krefting Research Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Ibrahim NK, Alghamdi AA, Almehmadi MM, Alzahrani AA, Turkistani AK, Alghamdi K. Allergy and related clinical symptoms among medical students and interns. Pak J Med Sci 2019; 35:1060-1065. [PMID: 31372143 PMCID: PMC6659050 DOI: 10.12669/pjms.35.4.1281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence, types, clinical presentations, triggers, and predictors of allergic disorders among medical students and interns at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS A cross-sectional design was used for this study in which 600 medical students and interns were selected by a multistage stratified random sampling. A validated, confidential, self-administered questionnaire was used during 2016 / 2017. It asked about the previous diagnosis of allergic disorders, associated factors, types, clinical symptoms and the triggering allergenic. Descriptive & inferential statistics were done and logistic regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS The overall prevalence of diagnosed allergic disorder(s) among the participants was 36.2%.The commonest types of allergy were skin (33.8%) followed by respiratory (29.5%) presentations. The most frequently reported allergenic triggers were the house dust (45.6%) and smoke (30.4%). The first allergy predictor was family history of allergic disorders (aOR= 4.35, 95 % CI: 2.96-6.39), followed by female gender. Regarding the outcome of allergy on students' life, 16.1% occasionally missed classes, and 28.6% had sleep disturbance during allergic attacks. CONCLUSION Allergy represents an important problem among medical students and interns. Family history and female gender were the predictors of allergy. Skin and respiratory allergies were the most common types. House dust and smoke were the commonest allergenic triggers. Detection of allergens and management of cases of allergy among medical students and interns are needed. Education and conduction of awareness campaigns about allergy are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahla Khamis Ibrahim
- Nahla Khamis Ibrahim, Professor at Community Medicine Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Professor at Epidemiology Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Abeer Ali Alghamdi
- Abeer Ali Alghamdi, Medical Intern, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mayar Majed Almehmadi
- Mayar Majed Almehmadi, Medical Intern, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Asraa Khairallah Turkistani
- Asraa Khairallah Turkistani, Demonstrator of Family and Community Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid Alghamdi
- Khalid Alghamdi, Resident, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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