Unmet Awareness of Allergic Asthma

Rationale

Atopy with increased production of IgE has been demonstrated to be the underlying cause of most cases of asthma (Sanderstrom T, J Asthma Allergy 2009; 2:49-62). Many asthma sufferers and primary care providers are still not well aware of this significant relationship. A survey conducted by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America revealed that 81% of the general population and 63% of asthma sufferers were not aware that the most frequent form of asthma is allergic asthma. The goal of our study was to further investigate the association of asthma and atopy by means of a clinical history of allergies and skin testing to environmental allergens.

Methods

We evaluated 122 patients (n=122; mean age 42 years) with the diagnosis of asthma according to the American Thoracic Society criteria. All patients underwent allergy skin testing and spirometry.

Results

Of the 122 patients with asthma, 93 patients (76%) had a positive allergy skin test to environmental allergens that correlated clinically with a history of asthma symptoms.

Conclusions

Primary care providers and asthmatic patients should be aware of the correlation between allergy and asthma, and that allergen exposure in sensitized subjects is a major inducer of airway inflammation and obstruction. Thus, both physician specialists treating asthmatic patients and asthma support groups should continue to expand their campaign to educate the public of this association in order to better achieve asthma control. Consequently, asthma management should include an allergy evaluation for potential allergen avoidance to further help decrease morbidity and mortality from bronchial asthma.