Associations between genetic ancestry and allergic outcomes at 10 years among Black children.

Authors

Kelsey A Finkel, Chun-Hui Lin, Alexandra R Sitarik, Haejin Kim, Amy A Eapen, Alan P Baptist, Christine Lm Joseph, Albert M Levin, Andrea E Cassidy-Bushrow, Chrstine C Johnson, Edward M Zoratti

Published in

Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Jul 03, 2026. Epub Jul 03, 2026.

Abstract

Elevated IgE levels, a higher prevalence of allergic disorders, and a higher incidence of asthma have been reported among Black compared to White children. Racial classification is a social construct partially influenced by genetic ancestry. Factors contributing to racial health disparities remain uncertain but likely reflect complex interactions between genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures.
We sought to assess associations of genetic ancestry among Black children to allergic disorders, IgE production, and lung function.
Prospective data from the Wayne County Health, Environment, Allergy, and Asthma Longitudinal Study (WHEALS) birth cohort was analyzed. Race was assigned by maternal report and Black, non-Hispanic/non-Arabic children identified (n=345, 53.3% male). Genome-wide continental Percent African Ancestries (PAA) were estimated. Associations between PAA and longitudinal total IgE trajectory (birth to age 10), allergic sensitization, allergic disorders, and spirometry at 10 years were examined. Models were adjusted for confounders including available variables associated with social determinants of health.
One hundred two participants (56%) were sensitized to one or more allergens; 47 (27.5%) had asthma. Each 10-percentage point increase in PAA was associated with a 68% increase risk of asthma (relative risk [RR] 1.68, 95% CI (1.16, 2.45); p=0.007), a 30% higher risk of sensitization to common allergens (RR 1.30, 95% CI (1.04, 1.63); p=0.019) and a decrease in FEV1 percent predicted by 2.67 percent (β -2.57, 95% CI (-5.19, 0.06); p=0.055). No association was identified between PAA and total IgE trajectory (p=0.11).
Among Black children, PAA is associated with an increased risk of asthma, allergen-specific IgE sensitization, and decreased lung function at 10 years.

PMID:
42398579
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 04 Jul 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.