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

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 administrated 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=0.024) 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<0.001). 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<0.05), but negatively with wind speed and pressure P<0.05).

Conclusion

PiAR prevalence in the investigated region is extremely high due to high seasonal pollen exposure, which was influenced by local environmental and climate conditions.

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