Researchers have demonstrated a clear association between demographic characteristics and food allergy, which may provide important clues to the environmental determinants of food allergy. For a study published in Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology, they conducted a nation- wide Canadian telephone survey on food allergy prevalence between February 2016 and January 2017, targeting vulnerable populations. The household respondent reported whether each household member had a perceived (self- reported) or probable (self-report of a convinc- ing history or physician diagnosis) food allergy. The association between perceived and probable food allergy and demographic characteristics was assessed through weighted multivariable random effects logistic regressions. They study team found that children, females, Canadian-born partic- ipants, adults with post-secondary education, and those residing in smaller households were more likely to report perceived or probable food allergy. Although immigrant parents self- reported less food allergy, Canadian-born chil- dren of Southeast/East Asian immigrant—versus other immigrant or Canadian-born parents— reported more food allergy.
