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Food allergy prevalence in two population-based UK cohorts born 12 years apart

Food allergy prevalence in two population-based UK cohorts born 12 years apart
Food allergy prevalence in two population-based UK cohorts born 12 years apart

Background: adverse food reactions include food allergy (FA; immune-mediated) and food intolerances (non-immune-mediated). FA are classified into IgE- and non-IgE-mediated FA. There is limited information available about changes in FA prevalence over time. 

Methods: two cohorts of children were evaluated, born on the Isle of Wight (IOW) 12 years apart, the IOW birth cohort (IOWBC; 1989–1990) and the FA and Intolerance Research birth cohort (FAIRBC; 2001–2002). We compared the prevalence of parental reported reactions to foods (adverse food reactions), allergic sensitisation to foods and FA between the IOWBC and FAIRBC, at ages 1, 2, 3–4 and 10 years. FA included both IgE- and non-IgE-mediated FA. 

Results: reported adverse reactions to food and sensitisation rates remained stable between the two cohorts. For example, FA at age 3–4 years was reported in 9.1% (95% CI: 7.5, 10.7) in IOWBC and 8.3% (95% CI: 6.5, 10.1) in FAIRBC (p = 0.57) and food sensitisation by skin prick test at age 3–4 years was found in 3.2% (95% CI: 2.1, 4.3) in IOWBC and 4.5% (95% CI: 2.9, 6.1) in FAIRBC (p = 0.20). Confirmed FA prevalence was lower in FAIRBC than IOWBC at ages 1, 2 and 3–4, but these differences were not significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. For example, FA at age 3–4 years was confirmed in 5.0% (95% CI: 3.8, 6.2) in IOWBC and 3.0% (95% CI: 1.9, 4.2) in FAIRBC (p = 0.03, significance threshold after Bonferroni correction p < 0.004). Confirmed cow's milk allergy rate was higher in IOWBC than FAIRBC at 3 years (< 0.001) but not at other time points. 

Conclusion: our data show no evidence of changes in rates of adverse reactions to foods, food sensitisation or food allergy during the first 10 years of life between two cohorts born in England in 1989–1990 and 2001–2002.

childhood, FA, paediatrics, prevalence, temporal changes
0954-7894
166-174
Fong, William
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Pickett-Nairne, Kaci
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Venter, Manzi
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Patil, Veeresh
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Arshad, Syed Hasan
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Roberts, Graham C.
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Dean, Tara
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Kurukulaaratchy, Ramesh J.
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Venter, Carina
a9b7dd5e-b0cb-4068-be82-e15b587cc20b
Fong, William
c5b2a197-d9e7-42e1-8cab-612a43587e5b
Pickett-Nairne, Kaci
51a11fd6-7549-42df-99a5-d9ce9e81a49b
Venter, Manzi
7272029e-084a-44d9-935a-bf0b73eff9bc
Patil, Veeresh
b898b9a7-db31-4c1c-b0f0-4165b3e4d29c
Arshad, Syed Hasan
917e246d-2e60-472f-8d30-94b01ef28958
Roberts, Graham C.
ea00db4e-84e7-4b39-8273-9b71dbd7e2f3
Dean, Tara
ff84e86b-7bba-4408-881f-425cf1b31da5
Kurukulaaratchy, Ramesh J.
9c7b8105-2892-49f2-8775-54d4961e3e74
Venter, Carina
a9b7dd5e-b0cb-4068-be82-e15b587cc20b

Fong, William, Pickett-Nairne, Kaci, Venter, Manzi, Patil, Veeresh, Arshad, Syed Hasan, Roberts, Graham C., Dean, Tara, Kurukulaaratchy, Ramesh J. and Venter, Carina (2025) Food allergy prevalence in two population-based UK cohorts born 12 years apart. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 55 (2), 166-174. (doi:10.1111/cea.14605).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: adverse food reactions include food allergy (FA; immune-mediated) and food intolerances (non-immune-mediated). FA are classified into IgE- and non-IgE-mediated FA. There is limited information available about changes in FA prevalence over time. 

Methods: two cohorts of children were evaluated, born on the Isle of Wight (IOW) 12 years apart, the IOW birth cohort (IOWBC; 1989–1990) and the FA and Intolerance Research birth cohort (FAIRBC; 2001–2002). We compared the prevalence of parental reported reactions to foods (adverse food reactions), allergic sensitisation to foods and FA between the IOWBC and FAIRBC, at ages 1, 2, 3–4 and 10 years. FA included both IgE- and non-IgE-mediated FA. 

Results: reported adverse reactions to food and sensitisation rates remained stable between the two cohorts. For example, FA at age 3–4 years was reported in 9.1% (95% CI: 7.5, 10.7) in IOWBC and 8.3% (95% CI: 6.5, 10.1) in FAIRBC (p = 0.57) and food sensitisation by skin prick test at age 3–4 years was found in 3.2% (95% CI: 2.1, 4.3) in IOWBC and 4.5% (95% CI: 2.9, 6.1) in FAIRBC (p = 0.20). Confirmed FA prevalence was lower in FAIRBC than IOWBC at ages 1, 2 and 3–4, but these differences were not significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. For example, FA at age 3–4 years was confirmed in 5.0% (95% CI: 3.8, 6.2) in IOWBC and 3.0% (95% CI: 1.9, 4.2) in FAIRBC (p = 0.03, significance threshold after Bonferroni correction p < 0.004). Confirmed cow's milk allergy rate was higher in IOWBC than FAIRBC at 3 years (< 0.001) but not at other time points. 

Conclusion: our data show no evidence of changes in rates of adverse reactions to foods, food sensitisation or food allergy during the first 10 years of life between two cohorts born in England in 1989–1990 and 2001–2002.

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Attached file- Venter-et-al.-IOW-CEA-review-CLEAN-revision-2-FINAL-editorial-changes - Accepted Manuscript
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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 7 November 2024
e-pub ahead of print date: 2 January 2025
Published date: 3 February 2025
Additional Information: Publisher Copyright: © 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Keywords: childhood, FA, paediatrics, prevalence, temporal changes

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 498881
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/498881
ISSN: 0954-7894
PURE UUID: ac4ecae9-dd33-4cec-b86d-8bf423784fae
ORCID for Graham C. Roberts: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2252-1248
ORCID for Ramesh J. Kurukulaaratchy: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1588-2400

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Date deposited: 04 Mar 2025 17:50
Last modified: 15 May 2025 01:40

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Contributors

Author: William Fong
Author: Kaci Pickett-Nairne
Author: Manzi Venter
Author: Veeresh Patil
Author: Tara Dean
Author: Carina Venter

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