Table 3.

The pattern of specific IgE antibody responses, BMI, and asthma in three different schools

	Urban affluent		Urban poor		Suburban/rural
	Asthma Yes (n=35)	Asthma No (n=35)	Asthma Yes (n=30)	Asthma No (n=33)	Asthma Yes (n=23)	Asthma No (n=25)
Mite	25**	5	9	7	11*	3
Frequency (%)	(71.4%)	(14.3%)	(30%)	(21.2%)	(47.8%)	(12%)
Ascaris	14*	5	17	17	15	12
Frequency (%)	(40%)	(14.3%)	(56.7%)	(51.5%)	(65.2%)	(48%)
Cockroach	23**	8	11	12	17*	9
Frequency (%)	(65.7%)	(22.9%)	(36.7%)	(36.4%)	(73.9%)	(36%)
Cat	1	0	0	0	2	1
Frequency (%)	(2.9%)	(0%)	(0%)	(0%)	(8.7%)	(4%)
Dog	5	1	4	4	4	2
Frequency (%)	(14.3%)	(2.9%)	(13.3%)	(12.1%)	(17.4%)	(8%)
α-gal	0	0	3	4	4	2
Frequency (%)	(0%)	(0%)	(10%)	(12.1%)	(17.4%)	(8%)
Total IgE	341**	81.1	412	272	502	252
GM (95% CI)	(198–587)	(47.0–140)	(252–673)	(150–492)	(271–931)	(146–436)
BMI	18.9†	18.1†	17.2	16.5	16.5	16.7
Mean (95% CI)	(17.6–20.2)	(17.3–18.9)	(16.3–18.1)	(15.9–17.0)	(15.6–17.4)	(15.7–17.6)

^**P<0.005 for Fisher's exact test between asthmatic and non-asthmatic children within the community.

^*P<0.05 for Fisher's exact test between asthmatic and non-asthmatic children within the community.

^†BMI for children in the UA school for asthma and controls were significantly higher than the other schools, but the two UA groups were not different.

α-gal, galactose-α-1,3-galactose; CI, confidence interval; BMI, body mass index; GM, geometric mean.