Relationship of Age and Gender with Total Serum Immunoglobulin E Levels in Adults- A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) plays a crucial role in various allergic diseases. These antibodies are produced in response to allergenic environmental stimuli, and their blood levels strongly correlate with allergy manifestations. Elevated IgE levels have been considered a powerful predictor of future asthma development. While several studies have explored the association between total serum IgE levels and demographic and environmental factors, no such study has been conducted in this region of India. Aim: To estimate total serum IgE levels and examine their association with age and gender in the adult population of Haryana, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Adesh Medical College and Hospital, Shahabad (M), Kurukshetra, Haryana, India. The records of patients, who visited the department between September 2015 and December 2020 were screened. Data on serum total IgE levels, age, and gender were collected from 360 patients (21-80 years, both sexes) with available information. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 software. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 36.80±18.30 years. Out of total 360 patients included, 198 (55%) were males and 162 (45%) were females. Male gender (odds ratio=1.68) was a significant (p<0.05) independent risk factor, while age ≤30 years (odds ratio=1.68) and age 31-50 years (odds ratio=1.15) were insignificant (p>0.05) risk factors for abnormal serum total IgE levels. Conclusion: Significant gender variation was observed in total serum IgE levels, while age showed insignificant variation. Physicians should consider these factors when examining the relationship between serum total IgE levels, allergy markers, and airways disease.