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Children of Asian ethnicity in Australia have higher risk of food allergy and early‐onset eczema than those in Singapore
Author(s) -
Suaini Noor H. A.,
Loo Evelyn XiuLing,
Peters Rachel L.,
Yap Gaik Chin,
Allen Katrina J.,
Van Bever Hugo,
Martino David J.,
Goh Anne Eng Neo,
Dharmage Shyamali C.,
Colega Marjorelee T.,
Chong Mary Foong Fong,
Ponsonby AnneLouise,
Tan Kok Hian,
Tang Mimi L. K.,
Godfrey Keith M.,
Lee Bee Wah,
Shek Lynette PeiChi,
Koplin Jennifer J.,
Tham Elizabeth Huiwen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/all.14823
Subject(s) - food allergy , medicine , allergy , cohort , pediatrics , ethnic group , cohort study , family history , egg allergy , demography , peanut allergy , immunology , sociology , anthropology
Abstract Background In Western countries, Asian children have higher food allergy risk than Caucasian children. The early‐life environmental exposures for this discrepancy are unclear. We aimed to compare prevalence of food allergy and associated risk factors between Asian children in Singapore and Australia. Methods We studied children in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) birth cohort (n = 878) and children of Asian ancestry in the HealthNuts cohort (n = 314). Food allergy was defined as a positive SPT ≥3 mm to egg or peanut AND either a convincing history of IgE‐mediated reaction at 18 months (GUSTO) or a positive oral food challenge at 14‐18 months (HealthNuts). Eczema was defined as parent‐reported doctor diagnosis. Results Food allergy prevalence was 1.1% in Singapore and 15.0% in Australia ( P <0.001). Egg introduction was more often delayed (>10 months) in Singapore (63.5%) than Australia (16.3%; P <0.001). Prevalence of early‐onset eczema (<6 months) was lower in Singapore (8.4%) than Australia (30.5%) ( P <0.001). Children with early‐onset eczema were more likely to have food allergy than those without eczema in Australia [aOR 5.11 (2.34‐11.14); P <0.001] and Singapore [aOR4.00 (0.62‐25.8); P = 0.145]. Conclusions Among Asian children, prevalence of early‐onset eczema and food allergy was higher in Australia than Singapore. Further research with larger sample sizes and harmonized definitions of food allergy between cohorts is required to confirm and extend these findings. Research on environmental factors influencing eczema onset in Australia and Singapore may aid understanding of food allergy pathogenesis in different parts of the world.