Table 3.
Associations between atopy and acute asthma
| Atopic parameter | Cases | Controls | ORa (95% CI) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPT (%) | N = 60 | N = 117 | ||
| Any aeroallergen | 41 (68) | 26 (22) | 6.31 (3.02–13.2) | <0.001 |
| Any mite | 41 (68) | 20 (17) | 9.94 (4.17–23.7) | <0.001 |
| Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus/farinae | 39 (65) | 19 (16) | 8.38 (3.70–19.0) | <0.001 |
| Blomia tropicalis | 14 (23) | 5 (4) | 8.10 (2.30–28.5) | 0.001 |
| American cockroach | 12 (20) | 10 (9) | 2.68 (1.03–6.96) | 0.043 |
| Specific IgE (%, >0.7 kU/l) | N = 60 | N = 113 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any positive aeroallergen | 49 (82) | 49 (43) | 6.06 (2.65–13.9) | <0.001 |
| Any mite (%) | ||||
| ≤0.7 | 11 (18) | 70 (62) | 1 | |
| 0.71–3.5 | 6 (10) | 26 (23) | 1.83 (0.55–6.06) | 0.324 |
| 3.51–50 | 12 (20) | 13 (12) | 4.56 (1.48–14.1) | 0.008 |
| >50 | 31 (52) | 4 (3) | 42.0 (8.97–196) | <0.001 |
| Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (%) | ||||
| ≤0.7 | 19 (32) | 83 (73) | 1 | |
| 0.71–3.5 | 3 (5) | 21 (19) | 0.73 (0.20–2.72) | 0.638 |
| 3.51–50 | 17 (28) | 7 (6) | 8.77 (2.46–31.2) | 0.001 |
| >50 | 21 (35) | 2 (2) | – | 0.850 |
| Dermatophagoides farinae (%) | ||||
| ≤0.7 | 14 (23) | 77 (68) | 1 | |
| 0.71–3.5 | 6 (10) | 20 (18) | 1.57 (0.47–5.31) | 0.465 |
| 3.51–50 | 23 (38) | 15 (13) | 6.66 (2.49–17.8) | <0.001 |
| >50 | 17 (28) | 1 (1) | – | 0.858 |
| Blomia tropicalis (%) | ||||
| ≤0.7 | 13 (22) | 76 (67) | 1 | |
| 0.71–3.5 | 8 (13) | 21 (19) | 2.45 (0.82–7.35) | 0.110 |
| 3.51–50 | 18 (30) | 14 (12) | 7.06 (2.41–20.7) | <0.001 |
| >50 | 21 (35) | 2 (2) | 36.5 (7.63–175) | <0.001 |
| American cockroach (%)b | ||||
| ≤0.7 | 38 (63) | 91 (81) | 1 | |
| 0.71–3.5 | 12 (20) | 15 (13) | 1.92 (0.80–4.60) | 0.143 |
| >3.5 | 10 (17) | 7 (6) | 2.98 (1.10–8.03) | 0.031 |
| Ascaris (%)b | ||||
| ≤0.7 | 26 (43) | 75 (66) | 1 | |
| 0.71–3.5 | 16 (27) | 21 (19) | 1.94 (0.91–4.10) | 0.084 |
| >3.5 | 18 (30) | 17 (15) | 2.59 (1.22–5.49) | 0.013 |
OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; SPT, skin prick test.
a
Odds ratios were calculated by conditional logistic regression (adjusted matching variables: age and sex).
b
No further stratification of IgE levels for American cockroach and Ascaris, given the small number of patients and therefore lack of power. The proportions were as follows: American cockroach: cases: 3.51–50 kU/l: 10 (17%), >50kU/l: 0; controls: 3.51–50 kU/l: 6 (5%), >50kU/l: 1 (1%). Ascaris: cases: 3.51–50 kU/l: 17 (28%), >50kU/l: 1 (2%); controls: 3.51–50 kU/l: 17 (15%), >50kU/l: 0.