BACKGROUND: Recent cross-sectional studies suggested that highest sensitization prevalences occur with moderate cat allergen exposures. We aimed to assess the impact of moderate levels of second-hand cat allergen exposure on the incidence of specific sensitization and wheezing in the framework of a birth cohort study. Therefore we restricted our analysis to infants without a cat at home since birth. METHODS: At infant's age 3 months, cat allergen levels were measured in the mattress dust of 1840 families without cats. At age 2 years, serum IgE specific to Fel d 1 was analyzed. Incidence of wheezing apart from respiratory infection was assessed by questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR) for the association between second-hand cat allergen exposure and health outcomes. RESULTS: Until age 2 years, 13 of 1301 infants (1%) were sensitized to cat allergen and 56 of 1492 infants (4%) had ever-wheezing without infection. Early exposure to second-hand cat allergen levels >or= 1 microg/g dust increased substantially the risk for specific sensitization to Fel d 1 (OR 10.9, 95% CI 3.4-35.0) and ever-wheeze without infection (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.9) at age 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Second-hand exposure to cat allergen in homes without cats is detrimental in terms of allergy development in infants.
BACKGROUND: Recent cross-sectional studies suggested that highest sensitization prevalences occur with moderate cat allergen exposures. We aimed to assess the impact of moderate levels of second-hand cat allergen exposure on the incidence of specific sensitization and wheezing in the framework of a birth cohort study. Therefore we restricted our analysis to infants without a cat at home since birth. METHODS: At infant's age 3 months, cat allergen levels were measured in the mattress dust of 1840 families without cats. At age 2 years, serum IgE specific to Fel d 1 was analyzed. Incidence of wheezing apart from respiratory infection was assessed by questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR) for the association between second-hand cat allergen exposure and health outcomes. RESULTS: Until age 2 years, 13 of 1301 infants (1%) were sensitized to cat allergen and 56 of 1492 infants (4%) had ever-wheezing without infection. Early exposure to second-hand cat allergen levels >or= 1 microg/g dust increased substantially the risk for specific sensitization to Fel d 1 (OR 10.9, 95% CI 3.4-35.0) and ever-wheeze without infection (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.9) at age 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Second-hand exposure to cat allergen in homes without cats is detrimental in terms of allergy development in infants.
Authors: Rafael V Veiga; Helio J C Barbosa; Heder S Bernardino; João M Freitas; Caroline A Feitosa; Sheila M A Matos; Neuza M Alcântara-Neves; Maurício L Barreto Journal: BMC Bioinformatics Date: 2018-06-26 Impact factor: 3.169