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. 2017 Oct-Dec;64(4):430-438.
doi: 10.29262/ram.v64i4.289.

[Self-reported prevalence of latex allergy and associated factors in healthcare workers]

[Article in Spanish]
Martín Bedolla-Barajas  1 , María Luz Machuca-Rincón, Jaime Morales-Romero, Nicole Macriz-Romero, Ileana María Madrigal-Beas, Martín Robles-Figueroa, Tonatiuh Ramses Bedolla-Pulido, Tania González-Mendoza
Affiliations

[Self-reported prevalence of latex allergy and associated factors in healthcare workers]

[Article in Spanish]
Martín Bedolla-Barajas et al. Rev Alerg Mex. 2017 Oct-Dec.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Background: In our country, the prevalence of latex allergy in health personnel has rarely been studied.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated factors to self-reported latex allergy in health care workers.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,292 health care workers of a second level hospital. All workers were included and they were required to answer a structured questionnaire aimed at identifying latex allergy, atopic personal and family history, exposure to latex gloves and surgical background. Odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) were estimated using regression logistic to investigate factors associated to latex allergy.

Results: The female to male ratio was 2.4:1. The men age 38.4 ± 11.6 years. The prevalence of latex allergy auto-reported was 9.7 %, with a confidence interval of 95 % (95 % CI) 8.1 %-11.3 %. There was no statistical difference by workplace (p = 0.508). Factors associated with latex allergy included female gender (OR = 1.68; 95 % CI: 1.03-2.73, p = 0.037), personal history of atopy (OR = 4.82; 95 % CI: 3.19-7.26, p < 0.0001), family history of atopic dermatitis (OR = 4.33, 95 % CI: 1.20-4.41) and history of allergy to fruits (OR = 4.33; 95 % CI: 2.62-7.14, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions: Up to 10 out to 100 health workers may have latex allergy. The main factors associated with latex allergy in this study were: being a female, personal or familiar atopy and allergy to fruits.

Antecedentes: pocas veces ha sido estudiada la prevalencia de alergia al látex en personal de la salud en México. Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia de autorreporte de alergia al látex y los factores asociados en trabajadores de la salud. Métodos: estudio trasversal de 1292 trabajadores de la salud de un hospital de segundo nivel, a quienes se les aplicó un cuestionario estructurado para identificar alergia al látex, historia personal y familiar de atopia, exposición a guantes de látex y antecedente de cirugías. La búsqueda de asociaciones entre variables se realizó mediante regresión logística. Se calcularon razones de momios (RM) e intervalo de confianza a 95 % (IC 95 %) Resultados: la relación mujer:hombre fue de 2.4:1. Edad media de 38.4 ± 11.6 años. La prevalencia de alergia al látex fue de 9.7 %, IC 95 %, 8.1-11.3 %. No hubo diferencia estadística por área laboral (p = 0.508). Los factores asociados con la alergia al látex fueron sexo femenino (RM = 1.68; IC 95 %, 1.03-2.73), historia personal de atopia (RM = 4.82; IC 95 %, 3.19-7.26), historia familiar de dermatitis atópica (RM = 4.33; IC 95 %, 1.20-4.41) e historia de alergia a frutos (RM = 2.30; IC 95 %, 2.62-7.14). Conclusiones: hasta 10 % los trabajadores de la salud podría presentar alergia al látex; los principales factores asociados fueron sexo femenino, atopia personal o familiar y alergia a frutos.

Keywords: Latex; Latex hypersensitivity; Risk factors.

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