Epidemiological characterization and risk factors of allergic rhinitis in the general population in Guangzhou City in china

The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) in China has increased with an apparent geographic variation. The current study aims to investigate the AR prevalence/classification, diagnosis/treatment conditions, trigger factors, and risk factors in the general population of Guangzhou, the third biggest c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2014-12, Vol.9 (12), p.e114950-e114950
Main Authors: Li, Chun Wei, Chen, DH, De Hua, Zhong, Jia Tao, Lin, Zhi Bin, Peng, Hua, Lu, Han Gui, Yang, Yan, Yin, Jia, Li, Tian Ying
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Air pollution
Allergic rhinitis
Asthma
Child
China - epidemiology
Cities
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dermatitis
Diagnosis
Epidemiology
Female
Food allergies
Genetics
Geography
Health policy
Hospitals
Humans
Male
Medical treatment
Medicine and Health Sciences
Methods
Middle Aged
Nitrogen dioxide
Nose
Otolaryngology
Outdoor air quality
Patients
Population
Population studies
Prevalence studies (Epidemiology)
Public health
Questionnaires
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial - epidemiology
Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal - epidemiology
Risk analysis
Risk Factors
Rural areas
Sampling methods
Seasons
Smoking
Smoking - adverse effects
Socioeconomic factors
Surveys
Surveys and Questionnaires
Systematic review
Tobacco smoke
Urban areas
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) in China has increased with an apparent geographic variation. The current study aims to investigate the AR prevalence/classification, diagnosis/treatment conditions, trigger factors, and risk factors in the general population of Guangzhou, the third biggest city in China. A cross-sectional survey was performed in the citizens in Guangzhou from December 2009 to March 2010 by using a stratified multistage cluster sampling method. All subjects were asked to complete a comprehensive questionnaire via a face to face interview. A total of 9,899 questionnaires were valid. The prevalence rate of AR in the general population of Guangzhou was 6.24%, with a significant higher prevalence in urban area (8.32%) versus rural area (3.43%). Among the AR subjects, most (87%) were diagnosed with intermittent AR and 87% suffered from moderate-severe symptoms. High percentages of the AR patients did not have previously physician-based diagnosis (34%) or specific medical treatment (55%). Morning time, winter season, and cold air were the most common trigger factors of AR. Family history of AR, current living place, living place during babyhood, smoking, home renovation, and pet ownership were the significant risk factors associated with AR prevalence in the population. The study demonstrated comprehensive epidemiological and clinical information about the AR in Guangzhou population. Change of living environment and lifestyles had strong impacts on the prevalence of AR. Public health policies should help the patients benefit from a proper diagnosis/treatment and specifically target the local risk factors, in order to control the AR incidence.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0114950