D2.322 - Identifying Risk Factors for Food Allergy and Food-Induced Anaphylaxis Among Korean School-Aged Children: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

This study assessed the prevalence and associated risk factors of food allergy (FA) and food-induced anaphylaxis among Korean school-aged children.

In 2022, a nationwide school-based survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Cluster sampling yielded a representative sample of 12,558 students aged 6–7, 9–10, and 12–13 years from 213 elementary and 103 middle schools in Korea. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed after adjustment for gender, mode of delivery, gestational age, birth weight, parental history of allergic diseases, timing of complementary feeding initiation, duration of breastfeeding, antibiotic exposure within the first year of life, and current allergic diseases.

The prevalence of self-reported perceived FA was 15.3%; recurrent immediate-type (<4 hours) FA, 7.8%; and physician-diagnosed FA, 5.5%, with food-induced anaphylaxis in 0.7% of cases. Significant risk factors included paternal allergic disease (aOR 1.28, P = 0.001), parental history of FA (aOR 2.10, P < 0.001), complementary food introduction at ≥7 months (aOR 1.20, P = 0.012), breastfeeding ≥7 months (aOR 1.23, P = 0.002), and current allergic diseases—atopic dermatitis (aOR 2.26, P < 0.001), asthma (aOR 1.91, P = 0.01), allergic rhinitis (aOR 1.46, P < 0.001), and allergic conjunctivitis (aOR 1.98, P < 0.001). Risk factors for food-induced anaphylaxis included paternal allergic disease (aOR 1.75, p = 0.04), parental history of FA (aOR 1.98, p = 0.006), early introduction of complementary foods between 0 and 3 months of age (aOR 2.6, p = 0.006), and current allergic diseases (atopic dermatitis, aOR 3.22, p < 0.001; asthma aOR 4.8, p < 0.001; allergic rhinitis, aOR 1.95, p = 0.01; allergic conjunctivitis, aOR 3.16, p < 0.001).

Among Korean school-aged children, paternal history of FA and the presence of atopic dermatitis in the child were important risk factors for FA and food-induced anaphylaxis, and the timing of complementary feeding was also found to be associated. These findings underscore the need for continued surveillance, early identification of high-risk groups, and targeted prevention and management strategies.