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Anaphylaxis-related hospitalizations increased, deaths stabilized from 1992 to 2012

There was a sixfold increase in hospital admissions caused by anaphylaxis but the incidence of fatal anaphylaxis remained stable during a 21-year period in England and Wales, according to recent study results.

Researchers studied data from national databases of hospital admissions and mortality caused by anaphylaxis in England and Wales from 1992 and 2012. They examined deaths caused by drugs, food and insect stings.”

Hospital admissions from all-cause anaphylaxis during the study period grew 615%, from 1 to 7 cases per 100,000 population annually. However, annual fatality rates remained stable at 0.047 cases (95% CI, 0.042-0.052 cases) per 100,000 population, with no difference in distribution by sex (P>.05).

Persons aged younger than 24 years had the highest rate of admissions because of food-triggered anaphylaxis. The mean age of patients with fatal food-induced cases of anaphylaxis was 25 years (95% CI, 22-28 years).

“The [age-standardized rate] for fatal food-induced cases of anaphylaxis was 0.011 cases (95% CI, 0.09-0.013 cases) per 100,000 population per annum, with a peak in the 10- to 29-year age groups,” the researchers wrote.

Patients aged 60 years and older had the highest rates of admission and fatalities for drug- and insect sting-related anaphylaxis; fatalities due to insect sting were rare in patients aged younger than 40 years.

“We have identified marked differences in age distribution of anaphylaxis admissions and fatalities according to trigger, which might offer important clues to underlying pathophysiology,” the researchers concluded. “Further investigation of age-related vulnerability to anaphylaxis can enhance our understanding of factors that predispose to poor outcomes in patients with severe allergic reactions.”

Disclosure: See the study for a full list of relevant financial disclosures.