Development of atopic sensitization in Finnish and Estonian children : A latent class analysis in a multicenter cohort

• Published in: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
• Main Authors: DIABIMMUNE Study Grp, Schmidt, Felicitas, Hose, Alexander J., Siljander, Heli, Knip, Mikael, Ege, Markus J.
• Other Authors: Children's Hospital, Clinicum, HUS Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Research Programs Unit, Diabetes and Obesity Research Program
• Format: Review
• Language: English
• Published: Mosby Elsevier 2020
• Subjects: Latent class analysis; unsupervised clustering; IgE; atopy; allergy; diabetes type 1 risk; wheezing; Finland; Estonia; severe atopy; BETA-CELL AUTOIMMUNITY; SERUM IGE LEVELS; ALLERGIC SENSITIZATION; ENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORS; INHALANT ALLERGENS; RUSSIAN KARELIA; ASTHMA; CHILDHOOD; DISEASE; ASSOCIATION; 3121 General medicine; internal medicine and other clinical medicine; karelia*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10138/314621

Background: The prevalence of atopy is associated with a Western lifestyle, as shown by studies comparing neighboring regions with different socioeconomic backgrounds. Atopy might reflect various conditions differing in their susceptibility to environmental factors. Objective: We sought to define phenotypes of atopic sensitization in early childhood and examine their association with allergic diseases and hereditary background in Finland and Estonia. Methods: The analysis included 1603 Finnish and 1657 Estonian children from the DIABIMMUNE multicenter young children cohort. Specific IgE levels were measured at age 3, 4, and 5 years, respectively, and categorized into 3 CAP classes. Latent class analysis was performed with the statistical software package poLCA in R software. Results: Both populations differed in terms of socioeconomic status and environmental determinants, such as pet ownership, farm-related exposure, time spent playing outdoors, and prevalence of allergic diseases (all P Conclusion: Despite profound differences in environmental exposures, there might exist genuine patterns of atopic sensitization. The distribution of these patterns might determine the contribution of atopic sensitization to disease onset. Peer reviewed