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Multicenter Study
. 2016 Aug;71(8):1170-80.
doi: 10.1111/all.12874. Epub 2016 Apr 13.

An increased prevalence of self-reported allergic rhinitis in major Chinese cities from 2005 to 2011

X D Wang  1   2 , M Zheng  1 , H F Lou  1 , C S Wang  1 , Y Zhang  1   2 , M Y Bo  3 , S Q Ge  4 , N Zhang  5 , L Zhang  1   2 , C Bachert  5
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

An increased prevalence of self-reported allergic rhinitis in major Chinese cities from 2005 to 2011

X D Wang et al. Allergy. 2016 Aug.

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) has increased worldwide in recent decades. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of self-reported AR and profiles of AR-related comorbidities in the adult population of China over time.

Methods: This study surveyed residents of 18 major cities in mainland China. Telephone interviews were conducted with study participants after sampling target telephone numbers by random digit dialing. The questions asked during telephone interviews were based on those included in validated questionnaires and focused on topics regarding AR, nonallergic rhinitis (NAR), acute/chronic rhinosinusitis (ARS/CRS), asthma, and atopic dermatitis (AD).

Results: During 2011, a total of 47 216 telephone interviews were conducted, and the overall response rate was 77.5%. When compared with the AR prevalence in 11 cities surveyed in 2005, there was a significant increase in self-reported adult AR in eight of those cities (P < 0.01). In 2011, the standardized prevalence of self-reported adult AR in the 18 cities was 17.6%. The concentration of SO2 was positively correlated with the prevalence of AR (r = 0.504, P = 0.033). A multiple regression model showed that the absolute change in household yearly income was significantly associated with the change in the prevalence of AR (R(2) = 0.68), after adjusting for PM10 , SO2 , NO2, temperature, and humidity. The overall prevalences of NAR, ARS, CRS, asthma, and AD in the general population were 16.4%, 5.4%, 2.1%, 5.8%, and 14%, respectively.

Conclusion: During a 6-year period, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of self-reported AR in the general Chinese adult population. The incidence of AR being accompanied by rhinosinusitis, asthma, or AD was significantly higher among individuals having self-reported AR compared with the general population.

Keywords: asthma; increase over time; prevalence; rhinosinusitis; self-reported allergic rhinitis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Locations of the 18 major cities in mainland China selected for inclusion in the present study. The number given for each city represents its population (millions of inhabitants) in 2010. Abbreviations: BJ, Beijing; CC, Changchun; CD, Chengdu; CS, Changsha; FZ, Fuzhou; GZ, Guangzhou; HK, Haikou; HZ, Hangzhou; H, Hohhot; KM, Kunming; NJ, Nanjing; SH, Shanghai; SY, Shenyang; U, Urumqi; WH, Wuhan; XA, Xi'An; YC, Yinchuan; ZZ, Zhengzhou.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparisons of the standardized prevalences of self‐reported allergic rhinitis (AR) in 11 major cities between 2005 and 2011. (*P < 0.001, # P < 0.01; Table 1 shows the P‐values for comparisons between 2005 and 2011.)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comorbidity of self‐reported asthma, acute rhinosinusitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and atopic dermatitis in the total population, and allergic rhinitis (AR) and non‐AR subpopulations (*P < 0.001).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Comorbidity of self‐reported allergic rhinitis, nonallergic rhinitis, acute rhinosinusitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and atopic dermatitis in the total population and asthma population (*P < 0.001).
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