Aeroallergen Sensitization Status in South Korea From 2018 to 2021

Abstract

Objectives: To date, studies on the aeroallergen sensitization status of Koreans based on large-scale data are lacking.Methods: We analyzed the data for 368,156 multiple allergosorbent tests (MAST) collected by a domestic medical diagnosis company from 3,735 hospitals nationwide from 2018 to 2021. We additionally collected sex, age, and regional data. If the level of an aeroallergen was 0.35 IU/mL or more, it was defined as positive, and if one aeroallergen was positive, it was defined as a positive case. The positive ratio (PR) for aeroallergens was calculated only for positive cases.Results: A total of 347,996 cases were analyzed, excluding cases with missing data. The percentage of positive cases was 56.7%, which was high in adolescents (74.1%) and low in the elderly (47.0%). All four types of mites had high PRs (0.382-0.655), and mold had low PRs (0.023¬–0.058). Among pollens, the PR of grass was generally high (more than 0.14), followed by weeds (approximately 0.10), and in the case of wood, it was less than 0.1. For animals, cats and dogs had the highest values at 0.231 and 0.183, respectively. The value for cockroaches was also high, at 0.211. The PRs of indoor aeroallergens, such as mites, molds, and animals, were high in adolescents, and those of pollen and cockroaches were high in the elderly. In Jeju, the PR of the Japanese cedars was extremely high (0.222).Conclusion: Koreans are sensitized to a wide variety of aeroallergens. There were significant differences in sensitization patterns according to age or region.

Changes in sensitization rates for respiratory and food allergens by age

“…pattern depending on age differs for each allergen. 3,4 To clearly identify these differences, allergy tests for various allergens need to be conducted in a large number of participants; however, such studies are lacking.…”

“…IgE levels of class 2 (0.70-3.49 IU/mL) or higher were defined as positive for a specific allergen. 4 Allergens are extremely diverse but can be classified into several groups. 2,4 Respiratory allergens are classified into 'dust mite', 'mould', 'grass', 'tree', 'weed', 'animal' and 'insect', whereas food allergens are classified into 'wheat and cereal grain', 'legume', 'tree nut', 'vegetable', 'fruit', 'shellfish', 'fish', 'hen's egg and avian meat' and 'mammalian milk and meat'.…”

“…4 Allergens are extremely diverse but can be classified into several groups. 2,4 Respiratory allergens are classified into 'dust mite', 'mould', 'grass', 'tree', 'weed', 'animal' and 'insect', whereas food allergens are classified into 'wheat and cereal grain', 'legume', 'tree nut', 'vegetable', 'fruit', 'shellfish', 'fish', 'hen's egg and avian meat' and 'mammalian milk and meat'. Although the sensitization patterns by age group were diverse, the allergens within the same category showed similar characteristics.…”