Author(s) :

Gaon Kim.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Allergic sensitization has been an increasingly important topic in public health policy as it can influence individuals’ physical and mental well-being. In addition, it can potentially lead to fatal health complications and symptoms. Existing studies have largely examined the influence of individual factors, such as genetics or dietary habits, on allergic sensitization using laboratory data. However, limited research has explored the socioeconomic and environmental factors that may trigger allergic reactions at the population level. Thus, this study aims to identify which socioeconomic and environmental factors of individuals may be associated with allergic sensitization using a large population-level survey: the 2005- 2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). It was hypothesized that higher socioeconomic status (SES), better housing conditions, and the absence of a history of tobacco exposure would be associated with reduced allergic sensitization. Taking the total serum Immunoglobulin E (IgE) as an indicator of allergic sensitization, the regression analysis identified that the family Poverty Income Ratio (PIR), the education level, and the number of people in the household had a strong association with the total serum IgE. This indicated strong evidence for the significance of socioeconomic and environmental conditions in allergic sensitization. These findings imply that living environments should be an important consideration in public health policy, particularly for those with lower SES. They tend to have higher allergic sensitivity, which can interfere with their daily functioning. This study contributes by revealing a strong link between socioeconomic and environmental conditions and allergic sensitization, with implications for public policy.