Relationship of Skin Test Reactivity and Eosinophilia to Level of Pulmonary Function in a Community-based Population Study

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Abstract
We studied the relationship of skin test reactivity (sumscore ⩾ 3) and eosinophilia (⩾ 275 cells/mm3 blood), separately and combined, to the level of FEV1 in a community cohort. We used the regression analysis technique, adjusting for age and area of residence, and stratifying by gender and cigarette smoking. Eosinophilia, among men, was associated with lower levels of FEV1 in skin test negative subjects with moderate cigarette smoking (⩾ 5 to 10 pack-yr: β = −250 ml, p = 0.02; ⩾ 10 pack-yr: β = −234 ml, p < 0.01) and in skin test positive subjects who either never smoked (β = −228 ml, p = 0.06) or had only a brief history of smoking (β = −428 ml, p < 0.01). Eosinophilia, among women, was significantly associated with lower levels of FEV1 in never smokers (β = −95 ml, p < 0.01), especially if subjects were skin test positive as well (β = − 289 ml, p < 0.01). Moderate cigarette smoking was uncommon in women. These data suggest an association of indices of inflammation (eosinophilia alone) and allergic inflammation (eosinophilia combined with skin test reactivity) with lower levels of FEV1, independent of the effect of cigarette smoking.