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. 2018 Jun;73(6):1232-1243.
doi: 10.1111/all.13388. Epub 2018 Mar 23.

Prevalence of pollen-induced allergic rhinitis with high pollen exposure in grasslands of northern China

X-Y Wang  1 , T-T Ma  1 , X-Y Wang  1 , Y Zhuang  1 , X-D Wang  2 , H-Y Ning  1 , H-Y Shi  1 , R-L Yu  1 , D Yan  3 , H-D Huang  4 , Y-F Bai  5 , G-L Shan  6 , B Zhang  6 , Q-K Song  7 , Y-F Zhang  8 , T-J Zhang  9 , D-Z Jia  10 , X-L Liu  10 , Z-X Kang  11 , W-J Yan  12 , B-T Yang  13 , X-Z Bao  10 , S-H Sun  9 , F-F Zhang  8 , W-H Yu  9 , C-L Bai  14 , T Wei  14 , T Yang  14 , T-Q Ma  11 , X-B Wu  11 , J-G Liu  12 , H Du  12 , L Zhang  2 , Y Yan  15 , D-Y Wang  16
Affiliations

Prevalence of pollen-induced allergic rhinitis with high pollen exposure in grasslands of northern China

X-Y Wang et al. Allergy. 2018 Jun.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of epidemiologic and physician-diagnosed pollen-induced AR (PiAR) in the grasslands of northern China and to study the impact of the intensity and time of pollen exposure on PiAR prevalence.

Methods: A multistage, clustered and proportionately stratified random sampling with a field interviewer-administered survey study was performed together with skin prick tests (SPT) and measurements of the daily pollen count.

Results: A total of 6043 subjects completed the study, with a proportion of 32.4% epidemiologic AR and 18.5% PiAR. The prevalence was higher in males than females (19.6% vs 17.4%, P = .024), but no difference between the two major residential and ethnic groups (Han and Mongolian) was observed. Subjects from urban areas showed higher prevalence of PiAR than rural areas (23.1% vs 14.0%, P < .001). Most PiAR patients were sensitized to two or more pollens (79.4%) with artemisia, chenopodium, and humulus scandens being the most common pollen types, which were similarly found as the top three sensitizing pollen allergens by SPT. There were significant regional differences in the prevalence of epidemiologic AR (from 18.6% to 52.9%) and PiAR (from 10.5% to 31.4%) among the six areas investigated. PiAR symptoms were positively associated with pollen counts, temperature, and precipitation (P < .05), but negatively with wind speed and pressure P < .05).

Conclusion: Pollen-induced AR (PiAR) prevalence in the investigated region is extremely high due to high seasonal pollen exposure, which was influenced by local environmental and climate conditions.

Keywords: allergy test; climate; pollen count and exposure; pollen-induced allergic rhinitis; prevalence.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The locations of the six study areas in Inner Mongolia. The number given for each area represents the prevalence of clinical pollen‐induced allergic rhinitis (PiAR) and epidemiologic allergic rhinitis (AR) (in parenthesis)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Allergic sensitization from skin prick test (SPT) in patients with pollen‐induced AR (PiAR). Results of SPT were classified as four degrees. Class 1: a wheal diameter between 3 and 5 mm; Class 2: a wheal diameter between 5 and 10 mm; Class 3: a wheal diameter between 1 and 2 cm; Class 4: a wheal diameter ≥2 cm and present with pseudopods
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pollen dispersal for 12 mo in the six study areas in 2015
Figure 4
Figure 4
The mean total monthly pollen count and presence of rhinitis symptoms for 12 mo (2015) in the six study areas. A, represents the overall data of the six study areas. B‐G, represents the data of the six individual areas. B Erenhot, C Xilinhot, D Duolun, E Jarud, F Kailu, G Tongliao
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