Increases in Allergen Sensitivity by United States Region: Analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) Database (1976-1994)

Regional trends in allergen sensitivity over time have not been thoroughly investigated. Allergen skin test data was collected from NHANES II (1976-1980, n=11,044) and NHANES III (1988-1994, n=10,833) for cat, ragweed, perennial rye, oak, Bermuda grass, and Alternaria, and stratified by census region: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Wilcoxon two-sample tests were performed [(p<0.05) noted by *]. Cat allergen sensitivity increased from...