213 Prevalence Sensitizing to Most Common Allergens in Elderly in Western Mexico

BACKGROUND: Allergic diseases affect a great proportion of seniors. Our objective was to determine the prevalences of allergen sensitization in this age group. METHODS: Retrolective study was performed during 3 years follow-up at Hospital School in Guadalajara city, Mexico. The allergen sensitization with a common allergen panel by a prick test was evaluated in seniors of first consultation in an Allergology Service. RESULTS: We included 60 subjects, with an average of 67.7 years old; 83.3were women. Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis was present in 60%, allergic rhinitis plus asthma in 30%, and asthma alone in 10%. Non atopic comorbidities were present in 56.7% of the cases. Median of serum IgE was 124.95 UI/mL, whereas for positive prick test was 4 (minimum-maximum, 1–21); 13.3% were sensitized to just 1 aeroallergen, and 55% were to more than 3 aeroallergens. Sensitization to pollens was predominant, even more to tree pollens. One by one, house-dust mite, Fraxinus sp and Amaranthus palmeri were the most common found. To have diabetes was associated to a minor positive prick test (P = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: It's recommendable to identify the allergen sensitization in seniors with allegic disease symptoms, as part of their evaluation. The most common sensitizing allergens are similar for other age groups proceeding from the same area. It's recommendable to search for more findings possibly associated between diabetes and number of positive prick tests.