Abstract
BACKGROUND: It has been proposed that alcohol consumption may be one of the lifestyle factors associated with a westernized, urban, and affluent lifestyle contributing to the rise in atopic disease.
OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the association between alcohol consumption and atopy (aeroallergen sensitization).
METHODS: In 1982, a population-based cross-sectional study of 3608 Danes (79% of the invited), aged 30, 40, 50, and 60 years, was carried out. Information on alcohol consumption was obtained by a questionnaire. Aeroallergen sensitization was defined as a positive test for the detection of specific IgE against a panel of 19 common inhalant allergens in stored serum samples. A total of 3317 subjects with complete information on all variables were included in the analyses.
RESULTS: We found a statistically significant association between alcohol consumption and aeroallergen sensitization (independent of the type of alcoholic drink consumed). This association appeared to relate only to those who consumed more than 8 drinks/week. After adjustment for confounders this association was only statistically significant for those who consumed 15-21 drinks/week (adjusted odds ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.2-2.8).
CONCLUSION: In this adult general population, self-reported alcohol consumption was positively associated with aeroallergen sensitization.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Pages (from-to) | 714-21 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| ISSN | 0954-7894 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2006 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Adult
- Age Factors
- Alcohol Drinking
- Allergens
- Confounding Factors (Epidemiology)
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Denmark
- Female
- Humans
- Hypersensitivity
- Logistic Models
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Odds Ratio
- Risk Assessment
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't