Allergic diseases and sensitisation profiles among cat dander-sensitised patients in Malaysia.
Cats are among the most common household pets in Malaysia, and cat dander is a significant aeroallergen. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of cat dander sensitisation, characterise allergic disease patterns across age groups, and explore the relationship between cat dander sensitisation and allergic multimorbidity.
A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on laboratory records of patients tested for specific immunoglobulin E to cat dander between January 2023 and December 2024. Specific immunoglobulin E levels were measured using fluoroenzyme immunoassay on the Phadia ImmunoCAP 250 system. Demographic information, allergic diseases history, and co-sensitisation patterns were analysed.
Of 2840 patients tested, 30% (n=851) were sensitised to cat dander, with 817 included in the final analysis. Most sensitised patients had single allergic disease (asthma, allergic rhinitis, or eczema) (51.2%), followed by those with allergic multimorbidity (35.6%). Asthma was the most common allergic disease (25%), followed by the combination of asthma and allergic rhinitis (18.4%). There was a significant association between age group and allergic disease patterns (p<0.001), where eczema was more prevalent in children and allergic airway diseases increased with age. Allergic multimorbidity peaked among school-aged children. Polysensitisation (≥4 allergens) was observed in 65.9% of patients. House dust mite was the most common co-sensitised allergen (96.3%), followed by cockroach (84.8%), grass pollen (62.6%) and fungal (45.7%).
Cat dander sensitisation affects nearly one-third of tested patients in Malaysia, and is frequently associated with polysensitisation. Age-specific disease patterns align with the atopic march paradigm, highlighting the need for targeted, age-appropriate intervention and prevention strategies.
A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on laboratory records of patients tested for specific immunoglobulin E to cat dander between January 2023 and December 2024. Specific immunoglobulin E levels were measured using fluoroenzyme immunoassay on the Phadia ImmunoCAP 250 system. Demographic information, allergic diseases history, and co-sensitisation patterns were analysed.
Of 2840 patients tested, 30% (n=851) were sensitised to cat dander, with 817 included in the final analysis. Most sensitised patients had single allergic disease (asthma, allergic rhinitis, or eczema) (51.2%), followed by those with allergic multimorbidity (35.6%). Asthma was the most common allergic disease (25%), followed by the combination of asthma and allergic rhinitis (18.4%). There was a significant association between age group and allergic disease patterns (p<0.001), where eczema was more prevalent in children and allergic airway diseases increased with age. Allergic multimorbidity peaked among school-aged children. Polysensitisation (≥4 allergens) was observed in 65.9% of patients. House dust mite was the most common co-sensitised allergen (96.3%), followed by cockroach (84.8%), grass pollen (62.6%) and fungal (45.7%).
Cat dander sensitisation affects nearly one-third of tested patients in Malaysia, and is frequently associated with polysensitisation. Age-specific disease patterns align with the atopic march paradigm, highlighting the need for targeted, age-appropriate intervention and prevention strategies.