Abstract
BackgroundMost epidemiologic studies reporting prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) have assessed solely self-reported prevalence, without confirmation by objective measures. Furthermore, reports of prevalence of NAR in Chinese subjects are scarce. Thus, we aimed to explore the prevalence and risk factors of AR and NAR in a Chinese, based on both clinical manifestation and allergic status.MethodsWe conducted a population-based cross-sectional survey, involving 1084 local residents from a rural area of Beijing, China. Participants were enrolled using a stratified two-stage cluster sampling method. All adult participants or the guardians of children completed standardized questionnaires to provide relevant demographic and clinical information. Skin prick tests were also performed to determine sensitization to specific aeroallergens. AR/NAR was classified according to Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma criteria.ResultsPrevalence of self-reported AR was 46.80%. Based on SPT results, the confirmed standardized prevalence of AR and NAR were 16.78% and 24.60%, respectively. Severity scores for nasal itching, sneezing, rhinorrhea and congestion were significantly higher in subjects with AR, than subjects with NAR (P < 0.05 for all). The three most common aeroallergens in self-reported AR group were Blattella germanica (16.6%), Dermatophagoides farinae (14.6%), and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (13.9%). Family history of AR and atopic dermatitis were significantly associated with AR (adjusted OR: 4.97 and 2.69, respectively), whereas family history of AR and asthma were significantly associated with NAR (adjusted OR: 3.53 and 2.45, respectively). Similarly, comorbid asthma, CRS, and atopic dermatitis were significant risk factors for both AR and NAR.ConclusionsCombination of standardized questionnaires and specific allergen tests may provide more accurate estimates of prevalence of AR and NAR and associated risk factors.
Highlights
Most epidemiologic studies reporting prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) have assessed solely self-reported prevalence, without confirmation by objective measures
Most of the available studies have reported their findings for prevalence of AR purely on the basis of the presence of self-reported nasal symptoms; with very few studies taking into account the importance of using objective tests for providing more accurate estimates, because of the cost and the low compliance of the subjects
It is possible that the wide variation in prevalence of self-reported AR varied might lie in the difficulty of understanding the questionnaires and the coexistence of NAR, which was not addressed
Summary
Most epidemiologic studies reporting prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) have assessed solely self-reported prevalence, without confirmation by objective measures. We aimed to explore the prevalence and risk factors of AR and NAR in a Chinese, based on both clinical manifestation and allergic status. Most epidemiologic studies of AR are based on mostly self-reported prevalence of symptoms and often lack objective measures. As an inflammatory disease of nasal mucosa, rhinitis is often defined by its clinical manifestation, such as rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal congestion and itching. According to the latest Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines [1], classic symptoms of AR include sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, and nasal pruritus, alongside with ocular symptoms such as redness and itching of eyes and lachrymation. Detectable immunoglobulin E (IgE) against relevant aeroallergens is measurable, as the symptoms of AR are a result a hypersensitivity reaction caused by specific inhalant allergens, mediated by specific immunoglobulin E (IgE)
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