Highlights and recent developments in airway diseases in EAACI journals (2017)

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on allergen sensitivity of individuals

INTRODUCTION

The most common indoor allergens are house dust mites, molds, cockroaches, and pet allergens. Increasing exposure to these allergens increases the possibility of sensitization. This study examines changes in allergen sensitivity during the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 19,525 skin prick test results from patients visiting the allergy clinic between January 2017 and August 2024. Patients were categorized into pre-pandemic (January 2017-March 2020), pandemic (March 2020-December 2022), and post-pandemic (January 2023-August 2024) periods. Allergen sensitization rates were compared across these timeframes.

RESULTS

A linear increase was observed in cats-Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and Artemisia vulgaris allergen sensitization during and after the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period (all p<0.001). Cockroach and grass-pollen sensitivities increased during the pandemic and remained elevated post-pandemic (all p<0.001). Dog allergen sensitivity peaked during the pandemic but declined post-pandemic (p<0.001). Sensitivity to the tree-pollen mixture, weed-pollen mixture, and Chenopodium album increased during the pandemic, slightly decreased post-pandemic, but remained significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels (p<0.001). In the test results studied since the pandemic period, Aspergillus fumigatus (p=0.007) and Cladosporium herbarum (p=0.005) allergen sensitivity was seen less in the post-pandemic period.

CONCLUSION

The current study reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic has significant effects on allergen sensitivity profiles along with changes in living habits. In particular, the increase in sensitivity to indoor allergens may be associated with the increased time spent at home during the pandemic, emphasizing the importance of environmental factors in the development of allergic diseases.

The Impact of the Pandemic on Cat and Dog Allergies

Objectives

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on allergic patients is not clearly understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in sensitivity to cat and dog allergens in patients with respiratory allergies in Istanbul during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Before the pandemic (March 2018 - March 2020) and during and after the pandemic (March 2020 - March 2022), a total of 5499 patients who underwent skin testing were retrospectively evaluated. The patients' age, gender, diagnosis, total IgE, and eosinophil values were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups: 2-6 years old and 7 years and older. The frequency of sensitization to cats and dogs was investigated in both groups before and after the pandemic.

Results

The median age of the 5499 children included in the study was 77 months, with a range of 2 to 221 months. Furthermore, 55.7% of the children were male. Of the children, 59.1% were examined before the pandemic, and 40.9% during and after the pandemic. During the examinations, allergic rhinitis was identified in 1628 children (29.6%), asthma in 1829 children (33.3%), and both asthma and allergic rhinitis in 2042 children (37.1%). Allergies to cats were found in 247 children (4.5%), and to dogs in 166 children (3.0%). When comparing the age groups, the frequency of cat allergy in the 7-years and older group was found to have decreased compared to the pre-pandemic period, and the statistical difference was close to significance (p=0.08). However, regarding dog allergy, in the 7 years and older group, the sensitivity to dogs, which was 5.6% before the pandemic, had decreased to 2.6% during the pandemic, and this decrease was found to be statistically highly significant (p<0.001).

Conclusion

Environmental allergen exposure has a significant impact on the phenotype of allergic diseases. Changes in patients' lifestyles and increased time spent at home during the pandemic may have led to a decrease in contact with outdoor cat and dog allergens, resulting in a reduced frequency of cat and dog sensitivity. Additionally, the introduction of mask-distance-handwashing/disinfection rules during the pandemic is believed to have reduced contact with cat and dog allergens, potentially contributing to a decrease in allergy frequency.

Characteristics of Severe Asthma Patients and Predictors of Asthma Control in the Swiss Severe Asthma Registry

BACKGROUND

Asthma is a chronic airway disease, affecting over 300 million people worldwide. 5-10% of patients suffer from severe asthma and account for 50% of asthma-related financial burden. Availability of real-life data about the clinical course of severe asthma is insufficient.

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to characterize patients with severe asthma in Switzerland, enrolled in the Swiss Severe Asthma Registry (SSAR), and evaluate predictors for asthma control.

METHOD

A descriptive characterisation of 278 patients was performed, who were prospectively enrolled in the registry until January 2022. Socio-demographic variables, comorbidities, diagnostic values, asthma treatment, and healthcare utilisation were evaluated. Groups of controlled and uncontrolled asthma according to the asthma control test were compared.

RESULTS

Forty-eight percent of patients were female and the mean age was 55.8 years (range 13-87). The mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.4 kg/m2 (±6). 10.8% of patients were current smokers. Allergic comorbidities occurred in 54.3% of patients, followed by chronic rhinosinusitis (46.4%) and nasal polyps (34.1%). According to the ACT score, 54.7% had well controlled, 16.2% partly controlled and 25.9% uncontrolled asthma. The most common inhalation therapy was combined inhaled corticosteroids/long-acting β2-agonists (78.8%). Biologics were administered to 81.7% of patients and 19.1% received oral steroids. The multivariable analysis indicated that treatment with biologics was positively associated with asthma control whereas higher BMI, oral steroids, exacerbations, and COPD were negative predictors for asthma control.

CONCLUSION

Biologics are associated with improved control in severe asthma. Further studies are required to complete the picture of severe asthma in order to provide improved care for those patients.

Highlights and recent developments in allergic diseases in EAACI journals (2019)

The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) owns three journals: Allergy, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology and Clinical and Translational Allergy. One of the major goals of EAACI is to support health promotion in which prevention of allergy and asthma plays a critical role and to disseminate the knowledge of allergy to all stakeholders including the EAACI junior members. There was substantial progress in 2019 in the identification of basic mechanisms of allergic and respiratory disease and the translation of these mechanisms into clinics. Better understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms, efforts for the development of biomarkers for disease prediction, novel prevention and intervention studies, elucidation of mechanisms of multimorbidities, entrance of new drugs in the clinics as well as recently completed phase three clinical studies and publication of a large number of allergen immunotherapy studies and meta-analyses have been the highlights of the last year.

Food and drug allergy, and anaphylaxis in EAACI journals (2018)

The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) supports three journals: "Allergy," "Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (PAI)," and "Clinical and Translational Allergy (CTA)." One of the major goals of EAACI is to support health promotion in which prevention of allergy and asthma plays a critical role and to disseminate the knowledge of allergy to all stakeholders including the EAACI junior members. This paper summarizes the achievements of 2018 in anaphylaxis, and food and drug allergy. Main topics that have been focused are anaphylaxis, mechanisms of food allergy (FA), epidemiology of FA, food allergens, diagnosis of FA, prevention and control of FA, FA immunotherapy, drug allergy, and political agenda.

Highlights and recent developments in airway diseases in EAACI journals (2018)

The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) supports three journals: Allergy, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, and Clinical and Translational Allergy. EAACI's major goals include supporting the promotion of health, in which the prevention of allergy and asthma plays a critical role, and disseminating the knowledge of allergic disease to all stakeholders. In 2018, the remarkable progress in the identification of basic mechanisms of allergic and respiratory diseases as well as the translation of these findings into clinical practice were observed. Last year's highlights include publication of EAACI guidelines for allergen immunotherapy, many EAACI Position Papers covering important aspects for the specialty, better understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms, identification of biomarkers for disease prediction and progress monitoring, novel prevention and intervention studies, elucidation of mechanisms of multimorbidities, introduction of new drugs to the clinics, recently completed phase three clinical studies, and publication of a large number of allergen immunotherapy studies and meta-analyses.

Highlights and recent developments in skin allergy and related diseases in EAACI journals (2018)

The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) supports three journals: Allergy, Paediatric Allergy and Immunology as well as Clinical and Translational Allergy. The major goals of EAACI include (i) supporting health promotion in which the prevention of allergy and asthma plays a critical role and (ii) disseminating the knowledge of allergy to all stakeholders including the EAACI junior members. Substantial progress was made in 2018 in the identification of basic mechanisms of atopic dermatitis and urticaria and the translation of these mechanisms into clinics. Many large epidemiologic studies and meta-analyses have been the highlights of the last year.