TABLE 1.
Demographic, clinical, and tick exposure characteristics of patients with alpha‐gal syndrome, University of North Carolina Allergy Clinic, 2010–2019
|
All patients N = 100 |
95% CI | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| N | % | ||
| Demographics | |||
| Age at onset, years | |||
| Median (Q1–Q3) | 53 (42–60) | ||
| 0–19 | 7 | 7.0 | 3.4, 13.7 |
| 20–39 | 12 | 12.0 | 7.0, 19.8 |
| 40–59 | 48 | 48.0 | 38.5, 57.7 |
| 60+ | 29 | 29.0 | 21.0, 38.5 |
| Sex, female | 66 | 66.0 | 56.3, 74.5 |
| Race | |||
| White | 95 | 95.0 | 88.8, 97.8 |
| Non‐White | 5 | 5.0 | 2.2, 11.1 |
| Hispanic ethnicity | 1 | 1.0 | 0, 5.4 |
| Clinical characteristics | |||
| Weight at presentation, median (Q1‐Q3), kg | 75.4 (62.0–96.2) | ||
| Medical history a | |||
| Heartburn/reflux | 37 | 37.0 | 28.2, 46.8 |
| Hypertension | 31 | 31.0 | 22.8, 40.6 |
| Recurrent sinus infections | 22 | 22.0 | 15.0, 31.1 |
| Asthma | 22 | 22.0 | 15.0, 31.1 |
| Previous tickborne illness b | 16 | 16.0 | 10.1, 24.4 |
| Diabetes type II | 8 | 8.0 | 4.1, 15.0 |
| Coronary artery disease | 7 | 7.0 | 3.4, 13.7 |
| Emphysema/COPD | 6 | 6.0 | 2.8, 12.5 |
| Eczema | 6 | 6.0 | 2.8, 12.5 |
| Allergy history | |||
| Any food allergy c | 17 | 17.0 | 10.9, 25.5 |
| Any nuts | 8 | 8.0 | 4.1, 15.0 |
| Shellfish | 6 | 6.0 | 2.8, 12.5 |
| Eggs | 4 | 4.0 | 1.6, 9.8 |
| Any non‐food allergy | 68 | 68.0 | 58.3, 76.3 |
| Pharmaceuticals d | 51 | 51.0 | 41.3, 60.6 |
| Environmental/seasonal | 39 | 39.0 | 30.0, 48.8 |
| Stinging insects | 18 | 18.0 | 11.7, 26.7 |
| Animals | 6 | 6.0 | 2.8, 12.5 |
| History of tick bite | 86 | 86.0 | 77.9, 91.5 |
Note: Data in table are reported as n, % unless otherwise indicated. Categories may not sum to 100% if data were unknown, or if categories were not mutually exclusive.
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; kg, kilograms; Q1, Q3, first and third quartiles, respectively.
The following assessed conditions were not reported by any patients: chronic bronchitis, fibrotic/restrictive lung disease, blood clots, health failure, stroke, congenital heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), HIV/AIDS or other immune deficiency, autoimmune disease, or type 1 diabetes.
Tickborne illnesses of interest included Lyme disease (N = 6), Rocky Mountain spotted fever (N = 8), STARI (N = 2), ehrlichiosis (N = 0), anaplasmosis (N = 0), and babesiosis (N = 0).
The following food allergies not listed in table include pre‐existing cow's milk allergy (N = 3), wheat (N = 3), soy (N = 2), mango (N = 1), and pork‐cat syndrome (N = 1).
Includes latex (N = 4), iodine (N = 5), and medications (N = 46).