SKARP--A population-based cohort study of childhood food-associated symptoms perceived by parents and XXXX diagnosed by physicians: design, methods and participation.

@entity1 @entity566 @entity5419
BACKGROUND: Few epidemiological studies exist on food-associated symptoms and @entity566 in large unselected @entity1 populations. AIMS: To describe the design, methods and participation rate of the South Karelian Allergy Research Project (SKARP), a population-based epidemiological study on food-associated symptoms and physician-diagnosed @entity5419 . METHODS: The study population of 5,973 @entity1 born between 2001 and 2006 and resident in the province of South Karelia, Finland, was identified from the nationwide population register. The parents received a questionnaire to be returned at their @entity1 's annual visit to the @entity1 health clinic, where supplementary interviews were performed. Results of @entity566 tests (skin prick tests, immunoglobulin E antibodies and open food challenges) performed on @entity1 and non- @entity1 were collected from the relevant health care units in the area. RESULTS: Participation rates in the questionnaire study were 54% (644/1,194) among the parents of neonates and 69% (3308/4,779) among those of the @entity1 aged 1 to 4 years. Cooperation with the @entity1 health clinics and mailing of a reminder questionnaire improved participation by 8 and 10 percentage points, respectively. The final participation rate seemed to be unaffected by whether the @entity1 had or had not been tested for suspected @entity566 . CONCLUSIONS: A reasonably good participation rate and almost complete coverage of @entity566 tests were achieved thanks to successful cooperation with the @entity1 health clinics and test laboratories. This baseline study forms a representative database to estimate the occurrence of food-associated symptoms, physician-diagnosed @entity5419 and @entity566 testing in the general population.
