Abstract

BackgroundSeveral studies conducted during the past two decades suggested increasing trend of childhood allergic diseases in China. However, few studies have provided detailed description of geographic variation and explored risk factors of these diseases. This study investigated the pattern and risk factors of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in eight metropolitan cities in China.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey during November-December 2005 in eight metropolitan cities in China. A total of 23791 children aged 6-13 years participated in this survey. Questions from the standard questionnaire of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) were used to examine the pattern of current asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the risk factors for childhood allergies.ResultsThe average prevalence of childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema across the eight cities was 3∙3% (95% Confidence interval (CI): 3∙1%, 3∙6%), 9∙8% (95% CI: 9∙4%, 10∙2%) and 5∙5% (95% CI: 5∙2%, 5∙8%), respectively. Factors related to lifestyle, mental health and socio-economic status were found to be associated with the prevalence of childhood allergies. These risk factors were unevenly distributed across cities and disproportionately affected the local prevalence.ConclusionsThere was apparent geographic variation of childhood allergies in China. Socio-environmental factors had strong impacts on the prevalence of childhood allergies; but these impacts differed across regions. Thus public health policies should specifically target at the local risk factors for each individual area.

Highlights

  • Several studies conducted during the past two decades suggested increasing trend of childhood allergic diseases in China

  • The present study reveals a geographic variation in the prevalences of allergic diseases across different regions of China

  • Local policies should target at the risk factors for each individual area

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Summary

Introduction

This study investigated the pattern and risk factors of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in eight metropolitan cities in China. Around the year 2000, the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) was conducted across different regions of the world, which indicated that China’s allergic problems could not be ignored [3]. Their results only covered two cities in mainland China. In 1990 and 2000, two national surveys were conducted and showed that the prevalence of asthma among children 0-14 years old was 1% and 1.97% [4], respectively, suggesting an increasing trend of asthma.

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