The sensitization characteristics of adult Chinese patients diagnosed with chronic respiratory diseases

Haisheng Hu, Huimin Huang, Peiyan Zheng, Lu Li, Chuanxu Cai, Ning Li, Baoqing Sun

State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of allergen-induced chronic respiratory disease (CRD) is increasing annually.
Objective: This study aimed to analyze the sensitization characteristics of adult Chinese CRD patients.
Methods: The serum specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) was detected via an inhalation allergy screening test. Total immunoglobulin E (tIgE) levels were measured in 85 asthma patients, 98 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, and 69 patients with other CRDs.
Results: The total positive rate of allergy screening among CRD patients was 36.1%. Asthma showed the highest rate (45.9%), followed by COPD (32.7%) and other CRDs (29.0%). The positive rate of inhalation allergy screening was significantly higher among office staff (68.9%) than among outdoor workers (42.8%) and farmers (25.0%, P < 0.05). In patients with COPD, atopy was a risk factor for dyspnea (Odds ratio = 1.22; P < 0.05). Optimal scaling analysis revealed a correlation between tIgE levels and smoking index (Cronbach’s alpha = 91.1%). Up to 35.0% of GOLD III or IV patients showed low sIgE and high tIgE.
Conclusion: Patients with CRD had high sensitization. Asthma patients who work indoors were more susceptible to allergies. Atopy was associated with COPD pulmonary function. It is necessary to initially screen the sensitization situation of CRD patients.
Key words: atopy, chronic respiratory disease, Phadiatop test, specific immunoglobulin E, total immunoglobulin E, allergen