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IJERPH
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Allergic Diseases in Adulthood: Burden, Mechanisms and Risk Factors
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Allergic Diseases in Adulthood: Burden, Mechanisms and Risk Factors

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 9472

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sandra Baldacci

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: respiratory epidemiology; diseases natural history; aerobiological information system; immuno-allergological characterization of general populations
Dr. Sara Maio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: environmental epidemiology; indoor and outdoor air pollution; observational studies; bigdata
Dr. Sofia Tagliaferro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 56126 Pisa, Italy
2. Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, 37129 Verona VR, Italy
Interests: outdoor air pollution; climate; lifestyle risk factors
Dr. Federico Pirona

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Statistics, Computer Science, Application (DiSIA), University of Florence, 50121 Firenze, FI, Italy
Interests: statistical methods; regression models; demographics; socio-economic and health indicators

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The prevalence of asthma and allergies, including atopy, has increased in recent decades, particularly in Westernized countries. The rapid rise in the prevalence of such diseases cannot be explained by genetic factors alone, pointing out a possible influencing role of environmental and lifestyle factors on this trend. Rapid urbanization and industrialization throughout the world have increased air pollution and population exposure. People living in urban areas suffer more frequently from allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma than those living in rural areas: one of the main determinants is the increase in outdoor air pollutants from energy consumption and vehicle exhaust emissions, which promote airway sensitization.

Recent evidence has shown an increasing incidence of allergic diseases in adulthood, but little research has been conducted to assess the exact burden and related risk factors in this age window (adult and elderly). In fact, most of the studies look at children and young adults. In older people, a number of factors can contribute to triggering allergy and/or to masking it, making it a more difficult and time-consuming process to reach the right diagnosis and relieve people who are often already suffering from other diseases and in the presence of many other causes of frailty. Considering that life expectancy and the number of elderly people are progressively increasing across the world, the issue of allergic diseases in adulthood is becoming a topic of interest from the public health point of view.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on the current state of knowledge on allergic status and related risk factors in adulthood. New research papers, reviews and case reports are welcome to this Issue.

Dr. Sandra Baldacci
Dr. Sara Maio
Dr. Sofia Tagliaferro
Dr. Federico Pirona
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • adult
  • allergic rhinitis
  • allergic sensitization
  • air pollution
  • asthma
  • eczema
  • elderly
  • genetic predisposition
  • lifestyle
  • new onset
  • pollens

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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8 pages, 297 KiB  
Article
Residential Exposure to Dampness Is Related to Reduced Level of Asthma Control among Adults
by Maritta S. Jaakkola, Henna Hyrkäs-Palmu and Jouni J. K. Jaakkola
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11338; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811338 - 9 Sep 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1897
Abstract
We assessed potential relations between indicators of indoor dampness and mold exposures at home and the level of asthma control among adults. The present population-based cross-sectional study, the Northern Finnish Asthma Study (NoFAS), included 1995 adult subjects with bronchial asthma who replied to [...] Read more.
We assessed potential relations between indicators of indoor dampness and mold exposures at home and the level of asthma control among adults. The present population-based cross-sectional study, the Northern Finnish Asthma Study (NoFAS), included 1995 adult subjects with bronchial asthma who replied to study questionnaires (response rate: 40.4%). The Asthma Control Test (ACT) was used as the measure of asthma control. We calculated the mean difference in ACT score (ACTdifference) and the risk ratio (RR) of poor asthma control (ACT ≤ 19) for the exposure and reference groups and applied Poisson regression to adjust for potential confounding. Exposure to indoor dampness at home was related to a significantly reduced level of asthma control (ACTdifference: −0.83, 95% CI: −1.60 to −0.07), especially among men (ACTdifference: −2.68, 95% CI: −4.00 to −1.37). Water damage (aRR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.65) and indoor dampness, especially among men (aRR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.15, 3.20), increased the risk of poor asthma control. We provide evidence that exposure to indoor dampness at home reduces asthma control among adults, especially in men. Indoor visible mold and mold odor were not significantly related to asthma control. Advice on how to prevent indoor dampness at home should be an important part of asthma management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Allergic Diseases in Adulthood: Burden, Mechanisms and Risk Factors)
9 pages, 667 KiB  
Article
Subtypes of Asthma and Cold Weather-Related Respiratory Symptoms
by Henna Hyrkäs-Palmu, Maritta S. Jaakkola, Elina M. S. Mäkikyrö and Jouni J. K. Jaakkola
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8790; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148790 - 19 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2223
Abstract
(1) Poor asthma control increases the occurrence of cold weather-related symptoms among adult asthmatics. We assessed whether the subtype of asthma, taking into account the severity of the asthma, plays a role in these symptoms. (2) We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of [...] Read more.
(1) Poor asthma control increases the occurrence of cold weather-related symptoms among adult asthmatics. We assessed whether the subtype of asthma, taking into account the severity of the asthma, plays a role in these symptoms. (2) We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of 1995 adult asthmatics (response rate 40.4%) living in northern Finland using a questionnaire that asked about cold weather-related respiratory symptoms including (1) shortness of breath, (2) prolonged cough, (3) wheezing, (4) phlegm production, and (5) chest pain, as well as questions related to the subtype of asthma. For women, the subtypes identified using latent class analysis were: (1) Controlled, mild asthma, (2) Partly controlled, moderate asthma, (3) Uncontrolled, unknown severity, and (4) Uncontrolled, severe asthma, and for men: (1) Controlled, mild asthma, (2) Uncontrolled, unknown severity, and (3) Partly controlled, severe asthma. (3) According to the subtypes of asthma, more severe and more poorly controlled asthma were related to the increased prevalence of cold weather-related respiratory symptoms when compared with those with mild, controlled asthma. This trend was especially clear for wheezing and chest pain. For example, in men, the adjusted prevalence ratio of wheezing was 1.55 (95% CI 1.09–2.19) in uncontrolled asthma with unknown severity and 1.84 (95% CI 1.26–2.71) in partly controlled severe asthma compared with controlled, mild asthma. (4) Our study provides evidence for the influence of subtypes of asthma on experiencing cold weather-related respiratory symptoms. Both women and men reported more cold weather-related symptoms when their asthma was more severe and uncontrolled compared with those who had mild and well-controlled asthma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Allergic Diseases in Adulthood: Burden, Mechanisms and Risk Factors)
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11 pages, 1376 KiB  
Case Report
Pollen Sensitization Can Increase the Allergic Reaction to Non-Cross-Reactive Allergens in a Soy-Allergic Patient
by Daniela Briceno Noriega, Huub F. J. Savelkoul, Ad Jansen, Malgorzata Teodorowicz and Janneke Ruinemans-Koerts
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(11), 6045; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20116045 - 3 Jun 2023
Viewed by 2368
Abstract
During and after the pollen season, an increase in food-triggered allergic symptoms has been observed in pollen-food syndrome patients, possibly due to seasonal boosting of pollen-IgE levels. It has been suggested that consumption of birch-pollen-related foods plays a role in seasonal allergenic inflammation. [...] Read more.
During and after the pollen season, an increase in food-triggered allergic symptoms has been observed in pollen-food syndrome patients, possibly due to seasonal boosting of pollen-IgE levels. It has been suggested that consumption of birch-pollen-related foods plays a role in seasonal allergenic inflammation. However, whether this increased pollen sensitization during the pollen season can also affect the allergenicity of allergens that are non-cross-reactive with birch pollen remains in question. This study presents the case of a patient with soy allergy and pollinosis, who experiences worsening of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms during the birch pollen season even though the eliciting food factor does not cross-react with birch pollen allergens and their homologs (e.g., Bet v 1 and Gly m 4). The results showed a notable increase in sIgE for Gly m 4 (3.3 fold) and Bet v 1 (2.6 fold) during the birch pollen season compared to outside the birch pollen season, while Gly m 5 and Gly m 6 showed only a slight increase (1.5 fold). The basophil activation test (BAT) showed that in this patient Gly m 5 and Gly m 6 are clinically relevant soy allergens, which correlates with the reported clinical symptoms to processed soy. Moreover, the BAT against raw soy shows an increase in basophil activation during the birch pollen season and a negative basophil activation result outside the birch pollen season. Thus, the worsening of GI symptoms could possibly be due to an increase in IgE receptors, an over-reactive immune system, and/or significant intestinal allergic inflammation. This case highlights the importance of including allergens that do not cross-react with birch pollen and using a functional assay such as the BAT to evaluate clinical relevance when assessing birch pollen seasonal influence on soy allergenicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Allergic Diseases in Adulthood: Burden, Mechanisms and Risk Factors)
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8 pages, 2981 KiB  
Case Report
Postmortem Biochemistry and Immunohistochemistry in Anaphylactic Death Due to Hymenoptera Sting: A Forensic Case Report
by Cristina Mondello, Gennaro Baldino, Vincenzo Cianci, Elena Forzese, Alessio Asmundo, Antonio Ieni and Elvira Ventura Spagnolo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(9), 5640; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20095640 - 25 Apr 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2056
Abstract
Background: Postmortem assessment of anaphylactic death is a challenge for forensic pathologists. One of the most frequent elicitors of anaphylaxis is insect venom. Here, a case of anaphylactic death due to Hymenoptera stings is reported to highlight the contribution of postmortem biochemistry and [...] Read more.
Background: Postmortem assessment of anaphylactic death is a challenge for forensic pathologists. One of the most frequent elicitors of anaphylaxis is insect venom. Here, a case of anaphylactic death due to Hymenoptera stings is reported to highlight the contribution of postmortem biochemistry and immunohistochemistry in assessing the cause of death. Case report: A 59-year-old Caucasian man working on his farm was presumably stung by a bee and died. He had a history of previous sensitization to insect venom. The autopsy revealed no signs of insect puncture, mild edema of the larynx, and foamy edema in the bronchial tree and lungs. Routine histology showed endo-alveolar edema and hemorrhage, bronchospasm, and scattered bronchial obstruction due to mucus hyperproduction. Biochemical analysis was performed, and serum tryptase was equal to 189 µg/L, total IgE was 200 kU/L, and specific IgE dosage was positive for bee and yellow jacket species. Immunohistochemistry for tryptase detection was carried out, revealing mast cells and degranulated tryptase expression in the larynx, lungs, spleen, and heart. These findings led to the diagnosis of anaphylactic death due to Hymenoptera stings. Conclusions: The case highlights that the role of biochemistry and immunohistochemistry in the postmortem assessment of anaphylactic reactions should be stressed by forensic practitioners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Allergic Diseases in Adulthood: Burden, Mechanisms and Risk Factors)
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