The EuroPrevall surveys on the prevalence of food allergies in children and adults: background and study methodology
The EuroPrevall surveys on the prevalence of food allergies in children and adults: background and study methodology
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DOI：
10.1111/j.1398-9995.2009.02046.x
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发表时间：
2009-10-01
期刊：
影响因子：
12.4
通讯作者：
Burney, P.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Kummeling, I.;Mills, E. N. C.;Burney, P.
背景：欧盟资助的多学科综合项目EuroPrevall于2005年6月启动，对儿童和成人进行流行病学调查，旨在估计欧洲目前未知的食物过敏患病率以及已知或疑似食物过敏风险因素的暴露情况。我们描述了儿童和成人流行病学调查的方案。本方案对采样策略、问卷的使用和用于免疫学分析的血液样本的收集提供了具体说明。方法：在一般人群中进行多中心、横断面研究。病例对照研究嵌套在这些调查中。研究对象为7-10岁的儿童和20-54岁的成年人，研究在代表欧洲不同社会和气候区域的8个中心进行。结果：在一项以社区为基础的调查中，收集了有关食品不良反应的基本信息，所有声称经历过此类反应的人，以及对食品“无反应”的随机样本，都完成了一份关于潜在风险和暴露的详细问卷。同时采集血样进行血清学分析，以确定食物和空气过敏原致敏的模式。我们还向学校提供了一份调查问卷，调查他们对学生食物过敏的准备情况。报告食物不良反应和对相同食物敏感的受试者被要求进行全面的临床评估，包括双盲安慰剂控制的食物挑战（DBPCFC），遵循其他地方详细描述的方案。结论：这些研究的结果将有助于提高我们对欧洲共同体食物过敏的几个重要方面的理解，为疾病预防、诊断和管理提供更明智的政策和有效的措施。
Background:The epidemiological surveys in children and adults of the EU-funded multidisciplinary Integrated Project EuroPrevall, launched in June 2005, were designed to estimate the currently unknown prevalence of food allergy and exposure to known or suspected risk factors for food allergy across Europe. We describe the protocol for the epidemiological surveys in children and adults. This protocol provides specific instructions on the sampling strategy, the use of questionnaires, and collection of blood samples for immunological analyses.Methods:The surveys were performed as multi-centre, cross-sectional studies in general populations. Case-control studies were nested within these surveys. The studies in children aged 7-10 years and adults aged 20-54 years were undertaken in eight centres representing different social and climatic regions in Europe.Results:After a community-based survey collecting basic information on adverse reactions to foods, all those stating they had experienced such reactions, as well as of a random sample of those stating 'no reactions' to foods, completed a detailed questionnaire on potential risks and exposures. Also a blood sample was taken to allow serological analysis to establish patterns of food and aeroallergen sensitization. We also included a questionnaire to schools on their preparedness for dealing with food allergy amongst pupils. Subjects reporting adverse reactions to foods and sensitized to the same food(s) were called in for a full clinical evaluation that included a double blind placebo controlled food challenge (DBPCFC), following a protocol which is described in detail elsewhere.Conclusions:The outcome of these studies will help to improve our understanding of several important aspects of food allergies in the European Community, providing for more well-informed policies and effective measures of disease prevention, diagnosis and management.