Increased health service use for allergy in adults: Northumbrian hospital episodes, 2010-2015

Background - Little is known on the health service use for allergy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the hospital episode rates in allergy by sex and across age groups in order to understand whether and how the health service use for allergy might have changed in recent years in north-east of England. Methods - Hospital episode data in mid-2010 to mid-2015 covering five full calendar years were extracted from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which is serving nearly half of a million population and free from central government control. Hospital episode rates were calculated from all admissions divided by annual and area-specific population size for each sex and age group, presented with per 100 000 person-years using Microsoft Excel. Results - Health service use for allergy in adults for both men and women has increased, with large increases in young adults aged 40–49 (both male and female), 50–59 (female) and 60–69 (male). In children, there were decreases in those aged 0–9, but increases in those aged 10–19. Emergency admissions due to allergy were only minimal. Higher admissions were observed in spring and autumn than in summer and winter. Conclusion - Allergy admissions have increased in adults. For future research, local health policy could benefit from annual clinical records on health service use due to allergy. For clinical practice, in addition to increasing and improving the role of health and nursing professionals to reduce burden and rehabilitation, public awareness, attitude and knowledge should be continuously raised and improved as well.