Journal of Asthma and Allergy (Mar 2024)

Risk Factors for Severe Seafood Allergy Among Adults in an Urban City in Vietnam

  • Trinh TH,
  • Duong CN,
  • Pham TH,
  • Au HD,
  • Tran LT,
  • Nguyen CV,
  • Nguyen HB,
  • Tran NM,
  • Phan QQ,
  • Le TN,
  • Nguyen N

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 17
pp. 167 – 179

Abstract

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Tu HK Trinh,1 Chi N Duong,2 Tu HT Pham,3 Hao DT Au,3 Loc T Tran,3 Cuong V Nguyen,3 Han BG Nguyen,3 Nguyen M Tran,3 Quy Q Phan,3 Thu NA Le,3 Nga Nguyen4 1Center for Molecular Biomedicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 2University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA; 3Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 4Hasaki Clinic, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamCorrespondence: Tu HK Trinh, Center for Molecular Biomedicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, 217 Hong Bang Street, Ward 11, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Tel +84-906 927 123, Email [email protected]: Increasing seafood consumption is associated with more frequent reports of food allergy. Little is known about seafood allergy (SFA) among adults in Vietnam. We investigated the characteristics of individuals with SFA and the risk factors for severe SFA.Patients and methods: A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted among individuals aged ≥ 18 years from universities in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) between December 2021 and July 2022. The survey was based on a structured, validated questionnaire related to FA. Strict definitions of “convincing allergy” were used. Multivariate analysis was used to estimate the risk factors for severe SFA after adjusting for covariates. Data were analyzed using JASP (v.0.16.3) and SPSS (v.22.0).Results: Totally, 1038 out of 2137 (48.57%) individuals completed the questionnaire, of whom 285 (27.46%) had reported SFA. Convincing SFA accounted for 20.13% (209/1038) of the cases, with convincing shellfish allergy being more common than fish allergy. Participants with comorbid shellfish and fish allergy had higher prevalence of atopic dermatitis, peanut/nut allergy, other food allergy, and cutaneous and upper airway symptoms compared to participants with shellfish allergy (p < 0.05). The spectrum of reactive seafood was diverse and characterized by local species. The age of symptom onset was most commonly during late childhood and adolescence, with most reactions persisting into adulthood. A history of anaphylaxis, comorbid peanut, and tree nut allergy, and ≥ 3 allergens were associated with severe SFA.Conclusion: Features of causative, coexisting seafood allergy, and risk factors for severe SFA were demonstrated, which can provide a reference for future studies.Keywords: seafood allergy, shellfish allergy, fish allergy, Vietnam

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