Die KORA-Allergie-Studie: Ergebnisse der Epikutantestung

In an epidemiologic study in Germany the frequency of positive patch test results to 25 standard allergens was determined in a population of 1141 adults (50.4% female, median age: 50 years). 40.0% of the subjects exhibited at least one positive reaction. Reactions to fragrance mix (15.9%), nickel sulphate (13.1%), thimerosal (4.7%), and balsam of Peru (3.8%) were most frequently observed. Women were sensitised significantly more often than men (50.2% vs. 29.9%, OR 2.36, CI 1.84-3.03), and the prevalence of sensitisation decreased significantly with increasing degree of occupational training (trend test p = 0,04). Compared with patient-based data sets the relative frequency is comparable but the absolute prevalence is somewhat lower in the general population.