Background The national prevalence and patterns of food allergy (FA) in the United States (US) are not well understood. Objective We developed nationally representative estimates of the prevalence of and demographic risk factors for FA, and investigated associations of FA with asthma, hay fever, and eczema. Methods 8,203 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2006 had food-specific serum IgE measured to peanut, cow's milk, egg white, and shrimp. Food-specific IgE and age-based criteria were used to define Likely FA (LFA), Possible FA (PFA), and Unlikely FA (UFA), and to develop estimates of clinical FA. Self-reported data were used to evaluate demographic risk factors and associations with asthma and related conditions. Results In the US, the estimated prevalence of clinical FA was 2.5% (peanut 1.3%, milk 0.4%, egg 0.2%, shrimp 1.0%, not mutually exclusive). Risk of PFA/LFA was increased in non-Hispanic blacks (odds ratio (OR) 3.06; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.14-4.36), males (1.87; 1.32-2.66), and children (2.04; 1.42-2.93). Study participants with doctor-diagnosed asthma (vs. no asthma) exhibited increased risk of all measures of food sensitization. Moreover, in those with LFA, the adjusted OR for current asthma (3.8; 1.5-10.7) and an emergency room (ER) visit for asthma in the past year (6.9; 2.4-19.7) were both notably increased. Conclusion Population-based serologic data on 4 foods indicate an estimated 2.5% of the US population has FA, and increased risk was found for blacks, males, and children. Additionally, FA could be an under-recognized risk factor for problematic asthma.

Objective To estimate the prevalence, types and sociodemographic and biobehavioral correlates of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in the United States (U.S.). Methods Cross-sectional analysis of 4,754 individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2004. ANA by indirect immunofluorescence, including cellular staining patterns and specific autoantibody reactivities by immunoprecipitation in those with ANA. Results ANA prevalence in the U.S. population ages 12 years and older was 13.8% (95% CI, 12.2% to 15.5%). ANA increased with age (P = 0.01) and were more prevalent among females than males (17.8% vs. 9.6%, P < 0.001), with the female to male ratio peaking at 40–49 years of age. ANA prevalence was modestly higher in African Americans than whites (adjusted prevalence odds ratio [POR], 1.30; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.70). Remarkably, ANA were less common in overweight and obese (adjusted POR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.94) individuals than persons of normal weight. No significant associations were seen with education, family income, alcohol use, smoking history, serum levels of cotinine or C-reactive protein. In ANA-positive individuals, nuclear patterns were seen in 84.6%, cytoplasmic patterns in 21.8%, and nucleolar patterns in 6.1%, and the most common specific autoantibodies were anti-Ro (3.9%) and anti-Su (2.4%). Conclusion These findings suggest that over 32 million persons in the U.S. have ANA and the prevalence is higher among females, older individuals, African Americans and those with normal weight. These data will serve as a useful baseline for future investigations of predictors and changes in ANA prevalence over time.

Overall, the plasma triglyceride level showed no independent association with coronary mortality. However, in subgroups of subjects with lower HDL and LDL cholesterol levels and in younger subjects, defined a priori, an association between the triglyceride level and coronary mortality was observed, although this association was small and was not statistically significant after an adjustment for the plasma glucose level.

Background-The National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing was the first populationbased study to measure indoor allergen levels in US homes.

BackgroundThe relationship of domestic endotoxin exposure to allergy and asthma has been widely investigated. However, few studies have evaluated predictors of household endotoxin, and none have done so for multiple locations within homes and on a national scale.ObjectivesWe assayed 2,552 house dust samples in a nationwide study to understand the predictors of household endotoxin in bedroom floors, family room floors, beds, kitchen floors, and family room sofas.MethodsReservoir house dust from five locations within homes was assayed for endotoxin and demographic and housing information was assessed through questionnaire and onsite evaluation of 2,456 residents of 831 homes selected to represent national demographics. We performed repeated-measures analysis of variance (rANOVA) for 37 candidate variables to identify independent predictors of endotoxin. Meteorologic data were obtained for each primary sampling unit and tested as predictors of indoor endotoxin to determine if wetter or warmer microclimates were associated with higher endotoxin levels.ResultsWeighted geometric mean endotoxin concentration ranged from 18.7 to 80.5 endotoxin units (EU)/mg for the five sampling locations, and endotoxin load ranged from 4,160 to 19,500 EU/m2. Bivariate analyses and rANOVA demonstrated that major predictors of endotoxin concentration were sampling location in the home, census division, educational attainment, presence of children, current dog ownership, resident-described problems with cockroaches, food debris, cockroach stains, and evidence of smoking observed by field staff. Low household income entered the model if educational attainment was removed.ConclusionIncreased endotoxin in household reservoir dust is principally associated with poverty, people, pets, household cleanliness, and geography.