Disparities in food allergy amongst British South Asian adult patients in central England
Osborne, Toni Walters, Gareth Baretto, Richard Krishna, Mamidipudi Thirumala
Osborne, Toni
Walters, Gareth
Baretto, Richard
Krishna, Mamidipudi Thirumala
Affiliation
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust; University of Birmingham
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Publication date
2025-09-05
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Abstract
Background: Published evidence suggests an increased burden of food allergy (FA) amongst ethnic minority groups resident the United States of America and Australia, with limited data from the United Kingdom. The West Midlands Regional Allergy Service serves British Caucasian White and Ethnic Minority Groups with a large proportion being British South Asian, making it important to explore ethnicity-based differences in clinical outcomes for FA.
Aims: To compare clinical outcomes of FA and other atopic diseases between Caucasian White and South Asian patients attending the regional allergy service in West Midlands.
Methods: This prospective cross-sectional, observational study (N = 29 White and N = 21 South Asian) used a structured questionnaire with dichotomous, multiple-choice, and scaled questions to gather data on age, ethnicity, FA (including allergens, allergic reactions, adrenaline auto-injector use, and emergency department visits), and other atopic conditions.
Main results: 1.) South Asians had significantly (p = 0.006) more frequent FA reactions. 2.) Poorly controlled eczema and asthma were significantly (eczema p = 0.015, asthma p = 0.022) more common amongst South Asians. 3.) The burden of asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinitis was similar between groups. 4.) Significantly more White patients (p = 0.027) with asthma were on higher treatment steps.
Conclusion: British South Asian patients with FA attending the West Midlands regional allergy service had more frequent allergic reactions and poorly controlled asthma and eczema compared to British Caucasian White patients. This highlights the need for improved education and compliance. Larger multi-centre studies are needed to gain further insight into ethnicity-based disparities in FA.
Citation
Osborne T, Walters G, Baretto R, Krishna MT. Disparities in food allergy amongst British South Asian adult patients in central England. World Allergy Organ J. 2025 Sep 5;18(9):101099. doi: 10.1016/j.waojou.2025.101099.
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Article