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. 2020 May 28;20(1):259.
doi: 10.1186/s12887-020-02148-z.

Factors related to disagreement between self-reported versus objective measurement of allergen sensitization at a tertiary pediatric center in Beijing, China

Qing Miao  1 , Li Xiang  2 , Hui Guan  3 , Yongge Liu  3 , Zhen Li  3 , Yixin Ren  3 , Wei Xu  3
Affiliations

Factors related to disagreement between self-reported versus objective measurement of allergen sensitization at a tertiary pediatric center in Beijing, China

Qing Miao et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: The objectives of present study were to examine the level of disagreement between self-reported and objective measurement of sensitization to common inhalant allergens, and to explore the potential risk factors that might contribute to this discrepancy.

Methods: A total of 215 children were enrolled from pediatric clinics at a tertiary pediatric center in Beijing, China. A survey questionnaires regarding self-perceived sensitization was completed by participants' parents/caregiver, meanwhile, skin prick testing(SPT) was performed as objective assessment of sensitization. Extent of agreement between self-reported versus SPT-measured sensitization to individual allergen was calculated using Cohen's kappa (κ) coefficient. Multivariable regression analyses were used to determine the factors associated with discrepancy between self-reported and objective measurement of sensitization.

Results: 119(55.3%) patients have reported to be sensitized to at least one of inhalant allergen, whereas 167(77.7%) patients had a positive skin testing response. Agreement between self-perceived and actual aeroallergen sensitization was moderate for mites(κ = 0.518) and grass pollen mix(κ = 0.451), moreover, fair agreement was observed for mold(κ = 0.316) and cockroach(κ = 0.297), respectively. There was a least agreement between perceived and actual sensitization observed for pet dander, with a kappa coefficient of 0.005. Subjects' age, atopy history, ownership of pet may increase the risk of disagreement, moreover, background factors of informant, like: age, education level, and the relationship with enrolled subjects, were linked to the incidence of disagreement between self-reported sensitization in comparison with SPT results.

Conclusion: Questionnaire-based self-assessment is easy way to collect clinical information on allergen sensitization; however, the accuracy of questionnaire-derived information is more likely to be influenced by respondent's background factors. The information from the questionnaire report is considered to be more reliable when in combination with objective assessment of sensitization, including blood IgE testing and SPT.

Keywords: Aeroallergen; Animal dander; Cockroach; Dust mite; Pediatric; Pollen; Sensitization.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart of study design
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
SPT-measured sensitization rates to each allergen between participants with or without self-reported sensitization. The difference in SPT-measured sensitization rates to individual allergen was compared between participants with self-reported sensitization (darker bar) and without self-reported sensitization(lighter bar). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.001
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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