Allergische Rhinitis und Sensibilisierungsraten - Nimmt die Prävalenz wirklich zu?

Abstract

Numerous epidemiological studies indicate an increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases. However, the estimations of the prevalence are very often based on questionnaire data only. Additional objective measurements e.g. of allergen-specific IgE antibodies were included only in a few surveys. Since the public awareness of allergic diseases has increased, too, the question arose, whether the reported increase represents a true rise in the frequency of allergies or simply reflects greater recognition of allergic diseases. Little is known about the time trend in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and sensitisations in adults in Germany. To prove, how reliable the prevalence data are, different sources of information (questionnaire, interview, specific IgE measurements) were compared. Additionally, to investigate whether the risk of atopic sensitisation and the risk of allergic rhinitis has increased in Germany, too, data of cross-sectional studies, conducted 6 – 8 years apart were compared. There is strong evidence that the prevalence of both, allergic rhinitis and sensitisations increased in the last years. In total, the rate of sensitisations increased from 27% to 31% and the prevalence of atopic rhinitis from 8% to 13%. In adults, under the age of 45, the prevalence is much higher than in adults aged 45 to 79 years. The prevalence of atopic sensitisation is 38% in the age group of 20 – 44 years and 23% in the older group, and the prevalence of allergic rhinitis (positive allergen-specific IgE test and reported allergic rhinitis) is 15% in the younger and 5% in the older group (prevalence in the last 12 months).