Sensitization to Common Allergens in Adults with Asthma

Article Figures & Data

Table 1.

Patient Characteristics

Table 2.

Distribution of Physician Sample and Atopyand Allergen Sensitivity by Region

	Total	NE Region	South	Midwest	West
Allergists (no.)	4	1	0	3	0
Family physicians (no.)	5	2	1	1	1
Pulmonologist (no.)	4	0	2	1	1
Number of patients	218	56	46	86	30
Overall atopic sensitivity (%)^*	68	77	61	67	67
Elevated total IgE (%)	48	59	39	47	43
Sensitivity to ≥1 specific allergen (%)^†	59	68	48	57	63
Normal total IgE and ≥1 specific allergen sensitivity (%)	21	44	39	36	41
Elevated IgE by allergen sensitivity (%)
Cat dander	32	43	24	27	40
Dust mite^‡	28	25	30	31	20
Common ragweed	27	43	22	21	20
Bermuda grass	22	30	20	17	20
Mold^§	17	18	13	16	23
Birch	17	25	13	12	20
Cockroach	17	25	11	14	17
Rye grass	11	12	9	11	17

* Sensitivity to one or more specific allergens and/or total serum IgE >114 kU/L,as determined by invitro serological testing.
† Determined by invitro serological testing.
‡ Dermatophagoides farinae.
§ Alternaria alternata.

Table 3.

Percentage of Asthma Patients with Atopyand Allergen Sensitivity by Physician Specialty

	Overall N =218 (%)	Family Practice N = 69 (%)	Allergist N = 75 (%)	Pulmonology N = 74 (%)
Overall atopic sensitivity^*	68	70	75	61
Elevated total IgE	48	56	48	39
Sensitivity to ≥1 specific allergen^†	59	61	68	47
Normal total IgE level and ≥1 specific allergen sensitivity^‡	21	9	27	22

* Sensitivity to one or more specific allergens and/or total serum IgE >114kU/L, as determined by invitro serological testing.
† Determined by invitro serological testing. χ²test of proportions used to assess differences between groups: P = .03.
‡ χ²:P = .02:

Table 4.

Physician Response to Serological Test Results by Specialty

	Overall (N = 218)	Family Practice (N = 69)	Allergy (N = 75)	Pulmonology (N = 74)	PValue
Test results provided new information (%)	45	59	31	46	≤.01
Would consider changes to asthma management based on test results(%)	40	55	33	34	≤.01
If yes, type of change considered (%)^*
Add medication to control allergy symptoms	38	21	44	56	≤.01
Add immunotherapy	22	16	20	32	NS^†
Change or discontinue asthma medications	45	39	68	32	.02
Discuss allergen avoidance	70	76	64	68	NS