Allergic contact sensitization in the general adult population: a population‐based study from Northern Norway

• Published in: Contact Dermatitis
• Main Authors: Dotterud, Lars Kåre, Smith‐Sivertsen, Tone
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2006
• Subjects: Sør-Varanger; Norway; Northern Norway; Varanger
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0536.2007.00980.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1600-0536.2007.00980.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1600-0536.2007.00980.x

Few studies have so far addressed the prevalence and risk factors for contact sensitization in the general adult population; however, many such studies have been conducted in hospitals. We present the prevalence of contact sensitization in a general adult population and its relationship to potential risk factors like smoking, ear piercing and atopic diseases. 1236 adults (44.2% men and 55.8% women) were randomly selected from a cross‐section of the population in Sør‐Varanger municipality, Norway, and patch tested with TRUE Test (Pharmacia, Hillerød, Denmark). Contact sensitivity to at least 1 out of 24 allergens was found in 35.4% of the women and in 14.8% of the men. The most common allergens were nickel (17.6%), cobalt (2.8%), thiomersal (1.9%), fragrance mix (1.8%) and colophony (1.2%). All other allergens were observed in 1.0% or less. In women, ear piercing was an important risk factor for nickel sensitization. No such significant correlation was seen in men [in women relative risk (RR) = 3.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.01–5.43, and in men RR = 1.82, 95% CI = 0.66–5.00], and contact sensitivity was associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.04–2.40] and smoking (adjusted OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.01–1.99) in women but not in men. The prevalence of contact sensitivity was common in this general population, especially in women. Smoking and AD might be a risk factor for contact sensitization.