Clinical trial NCT02730520: Impact of Age on the Prevalence of Allergic Sensitization
Official title: Impact of Age on the Prevalence of Allergic Sensitization
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Allergy
Keywords: respiratory disease
allergen sensitization
aging
skin tests
air allergens
Lead sponsor: Brugmann University Hospital
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2016-04-06
Enrollment: 1400
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Observational model: CASE_ONLY
Time perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Patients followed within the Immuno-Allergology Service of the CHU Brugmann Hospital, who received an allergy assessment between 01/01/2015 and 31/12/2015.

Brief summary: Worldwide, respiratory diseases have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality of individuals.Tobacco, lifestyle and certain allergens such as dust mites play an important role in the prevalence and morbidity of these diseases. Scientific literature indicates that sensitization to allergens and respiratory diseases (asthma, rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are closely linked. Moreover, smoking has an effect on allergen sensitivity.

To make a diagnosis of allergic sensitization, skin tests are performed in the patient. One of the methods used is the technique of "prick test". In practice, a drop of purified allergen extract is placed on the patient's skin (arms or back). A little dosis of the product is then injected in the epidermis. If fifteen minutes later, there is an edematous reaction, its diameter is measured in millimeters. From 4 mm, it is considered that the patient is sensitized to the tested foods or allergens.This technique is painless and convenient to patients of all ages, including newborns or conversely very aged patients.

This is a retrospective study based on the encoding and statistical analysis of data collected in patients followed within the Immuno-Allergology Service of the CHU Brugmann Hospital, who received an allergy assessment between 01/01/2015 and 31/12/2015. The allergens tested include: dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DEPT), dermatophagoides farinae (DPF), blomia, cat, dog, cockroach, orchardgrass, timothy grass, alder, hazel,birch, olive tree, cypress, ash, latex, aspergillus, alternaria, cladosporium, peanut, hazel.

At least 1400 files will be analyzed.

Patients will be distributed in six age groups.The results of the allergen skin tests will be encoded as the edema diameter. The allergenicity score (mean of the skin reactivities for each allergen) will be compared between each age groups. The impact of tabagism, gender, BMI and residential area on the allergic reactivity will also be assessed in the overall population and within each age group.

The main objective is to evaluate the effect of age on the skin test positivity. The secondary objective is to highlight the environmental factors that have an impact on allergic diseases.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* All patients followed within the Immuno-Allergology Service of the CHU Brugmann Hospital
* Who received an allergy assessment between 01/01/2015 and 31/12/2015. The allergens tested include: dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DEPT), dermatophagoides farinae (DPF), blomia, cat, dog, cockroach, orchardgrass, timothy grass, alder, hazel,birch, olive tree, cypress, ash, latex, aspergillus, alternaria, cladosporium, peanut, hazel.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Negative histamine patients

Primary outcomes:
measure: Allergenicity score
timeFrame: one year (01/01/2015 to 31/12/2015)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Smoking status
timeFrame: one year (01/01/2015 to 31/12/2015)
measure: Geographic localisation
timeFrame: one year (01/01/2015 to 31/12/2015)
measure: Sex
timeFrame: one year (01/01/2015 to 31/12/2015)
measure: Body Mass Index
timeFrame: one year (01/01/2015 to 31/12/2015)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Brussels
country: Belgium
facility: CHU Brugmann
Study officials:
affiliation: CHU Brugmann
name: Olivier Michel, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Bauchau V, Durham SR. Epidemiological characterization of the intermittent and persistent types of allergic rhinitis. Allergy. 2005 Mar;60(3):350-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2005.00751.x.