Frequency of food allergy in Europe: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Giulia C I Spolidoro, Yohannes Tesfaye Amera, Mohamed Mustafa Ali, Sungkutu Nyassi, Daniil Lisik, Athina Ioannidou, Graciela Rovner, Ekaterina Khaleva, Carina Venter, Ronald van Ree, Margitta Worm, Berber Vlieg-Boerstra, Aziz Sheikh, Antonella Muraro, Graham Roberts, Bright I Nwaru

Journal: Allergy 2023;78(2):351-368

PMID: 36271775

Free Full Text on PubMed Central View on PubMed

Abstract

Food allergy (FA) is increasingly reported in Europe, however, the latest prevalence estimates were based on studies published a decade ago. The present work provides the most updated estimates of the prevalence and trends of FA in Europe. Databases were searched for studies published between 2012 and 2021, added to studies published up to 2012. In total, 110 studies were included in this update. Most studies were graded as moderate risk of bias. Pooled lifetime and point prevalence of self-reported FA were 19.9% (95% CI 16.6-23.3) and 13.1% (95% CI 11.3-14.8), respectively. The point prevalence of sensitization based on specific IgE (slgE) was 16.6% (95% CI 12.3-20.8), skin prick test (SPT) 5.7% (95% CI 3.9-7.4), and positive food challenge 0.8% (95% CI 0.5-0.9). While lifetime prevalence of self-reported FA and food challenge positivity only slightly changed, the point prevalence of self-reported FA, sIgE and SPT positivity increased from previous estimates. This may reflect a real increase, increased awareness, increased number of foods assessed, or increased number of studies from countries with less data in the first review. Future studies require rigorous designs and implementation of standardized methodology in diagnosing FA, including use of double-blinded placebo-controlled food challenge to minimize potential biases.

Address: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.; School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.; Krefting Research Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.; ACT Institutet Sweden, Gothenburg, Sweden.; Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.; Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.; Section of Allergy and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Children's Hospital Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.; Department of Experimental Immunology and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.; Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Dermatology, Allergy and Venerology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.; Department of Pediatrics, OLVG Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.; Department of Pediatrics, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, the Netherlands.; Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.; Department of Mother and Child Health, The Referral Centre for Food Allergy Diagnosis and Treatment Veneto Region, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.; Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.; David Hide Asthma and Allergy Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, UK.; Krefting Research Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.; Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

DOI: 10.1111/all.15560

Link outs

Free resources

Full Text Sources:

Medical:

https://medlineplus.gov/foodallergy.html

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Humans, Immunoglobulin E, Food Hypersensitivity, Food, Skin Tests, Allergens, Europe