Original Paper

The Prevalence of Atopy in Asthmatic Children Correlates Strictly with the Prevalence of Atopy among Nonasthmatic Children
R. Ronchetti^a, Z. Rennerova^b, M. Barreto^a, M.P. Villa<sup>a

a</sup>Department of Pediatrics, Second School of Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy;
^bSrobar's Institute for Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis for Children, Dolný Smokovec, Vysoké Tatry, Slovakia

Address of Corresponding Author

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2007;142:79-85 (DOI: 10.1159/000096031)

  Key Words

• Asthmatic children
• Atopy
• Epidemiology

  Abstract

Background: Because asthma preferentially burdens persons with atopy, atopy is simplistically considered a primary 'cause' of asthma. Yet at the population level, the percentage of asthma cases 'attributable' to atopy ranges from less than 10% to more than 60%. Seeking to understand the rationale for the variability of atopy-attributable cases of asthma, we systematically reviewed the results of our own previous epidemiological studies and several studies conducted by others in children. Methods: From each of the 37 random pediatric populations selected by a Medline search combining the key words 'IgE or skin tests or hypersensitivity, immediate' with 'epidemiological studies, cross-sectional, case-control, prevalence, longitudinal, epidemiology of asthma' (12 from our previous pediatric surveys and a further 25 reported from 19 studies in children), we extracted the population prevalence of asthma and atopy among asthmatic subjects and among the nonasthmatic part of the population. Results: No correlation was found between the prevalence of asthma (range 1.8-44.1%) and atopy (range 5.8-63.9%) in these 37 populations of children (r = 0.052, p = 0.761). Nevertheless, the prevalence of atopy among asthmatics strictly correlated with the prevalence of atopy in nonasthmatics (r = 0.900, p< 0.001, slope 1.364). Conclusion: The prevalence of asthma and atopy varies worldwide and at various time points and independently undergoes the influence of powerful environmental factors. The almost perfect correlation we found between atopy in asthmatics and atopy in the nonasthmatic part of the childhood population shows that the prevalence of atopy in asthma depends on environmental factors that simultaneously induce atopy in asthmatic and nonasthmatic subjects.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Correspondence to: Prof. Roberto Ronchetti
Clinica Pediatrica, Ospedale Sant' Andrea
Via Grottarossa 1035/1039, IT-00189 Rome (Italy)
Tel. +39 06 3377 5856, Fax +39 06 3377 5001
E-Mail roberto.ronchetti@ospedalesantandrea.it

  Article Information

Received: February 2, 2006
Accepted after revision: June 1, 2006
Published online: October 3, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 62