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The Largest Study of AllergyTesting in the United States

Ars Arss Amra

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Qust Dasts Hath Trds

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Allergy Report 2011

Qust Dianostics

Th arst study  ary tst  th Utd Stats

I am pleased to present to you the rst Quest Diagnostics Health Trends™ allergy report,

Allergies Across America

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. This report is the largest analysis o allergy testing o patients inthe United States under evaluation or medical symptoms associated with allergies.Allergies are a major public health concern, aecting the healthcare system, employers,and, indeed, patients. By the time you nish reading this report, you may be surprisedby the dynamic nature o allergies in the United States. We ound evidence that allergensensitization is increasing, and that the type o allergens aecting Americans evolved duringthe 4 years we examined. We also ound that allergens have a disproportionate negativeeect on children. A novel nding is that men experience higher rates o sensitization toallergens than women. Even the way allergies are diagnosed is changing, with a clear shittowards greater allergy testing by pediatricians and other primary care physicians.We ound evidence supporting the pattern o allergy progression known as the “allergymarch,” in which allergen sensitization oten evolves rom ood to environmental allergens.Our analysis identied a connection between allergies and asthma, building on priorresearch, but using our much larger data set. In addition, we revealed disparities in ourhealthcare system that should be cause or alarm or any policy maker, physician, or parent.Our allergy report adds to our collection o Quest Diagnostics Health Trends reportsdeveloped in recent years on health concerns aecting large numbers o patients in theUnited States. Based on analyses o our national database – consisting o more than 1.5billion patient encounters since January 2000 – previous reports have ocused on chronickidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, H1N1 (2009) Inuenza A, and rotavirus. I encourageyou to read these reports, which can be ound atQuestDiagnostics.com/HealthTrends.With mounting demands on our healthcare system, our nation must devise new, innovativemethods o providing high quality services. Greater knowledge o the patient impact andclinical management o chronic diseases, such as allergies, will be increasingly vital to theability o healthcare proessionals to deliver the best possible care.Best regards,Surya N. Mohapatra, Ph.D.Chairman and Chie Executive OfcerQuest DiagnosticsP.S. A PDF o this report and additional content about allergies and IgE testing are available at

QustDasts.m/HathTrds

Hath Trds

Allergy Report 2011