Relationship between indoor inhalant allergen concentrations, serum IgE, and allergic diseases: A cross-sectional study from the NHANES 2005–2006 program

Abstract

This research analyzed data from 5106 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2006 to explore the link between indoor allergen concentrations, serum IgE levels, and allergic diseases. The study found that 14.9% of participants reported having asthma, with significant differences noted in the concentrations of certain indoor allergens, specifically dust dog, mite, and cat allergens, between asthma and non-asthma groups. Furthermore, positivity rates for inhalant allergen-specific IgE and total IgE were higher in the asthma group. However, the correlations between most inhalant allergen IgE, including total IgE, and indoor allergen concentrations were very weak. These findings suggest that the relationship between indoor allergen concentrations and asthma incidence is complex, indicating a potential need for personalized allergen prevention strategies based on disease type and patient sensitization.