Comparison of trends of prevalence of allergic diseases in Eastern German children during the 1990s
| Bitterfeld Study (the current study) 1992, 1995, 1998 | Sachsen-Anhalt Sachsen-Study# 1991–2000 | Leipzig¶ 1992, 1995 | |
| Age yrs | 5–14 | 5–7 | 9–11 |
| Subject n | 7,632 | ∼22,000 | 4,520 |
| Hayfever+ | (↑) | ↑ | ↑ |
| Asthma+ | ↑ | ↑ | = |
| Eczema+ | ↑ | ↑ | (↑) |
| Sensitization | |||
| SPT | NE | ↑(HDM) | ↑(any SPT) |
| RAST | ↓(any RAST >0.35 kU·L−1) | ↑(birch) (RAST >0.7 kU·L−1) | |
| ↑(RAST ≥17.5 kU·L−1) | |||
| ↑(HDM, birch) RAST ≥17.5 kU·L−1) | ↑(HDM) (RAST >0.7 kU·L−1) | ||
| BHR§ | ↑ | = | |
SPT: skin-prick test
RAST: radioallergosorbent test
BHR: bronchial hyperresponsiveness
HDM: house dust mite
NE: not examined
↑: significant increase of prevalence
=: no significant change in prevalence
(↑): marginally significant increase in prevalence
↓ significant decrease of prevalence
¶: 19
+: lifetime prevalence of doctors diagnoses
§: decrease of forced expiratory volume in one second ≥9% from baseline after cold air challenge