Abstract
Background: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis has increased considerably over the past century. However, incidence of allergic rhinitis has only sparsely been studied. We sought to investigate the incidence and determinants for allergic rhinitis in adults.
Methods: A questionnaire on respiratory health was mailed in 1996 and 2006 to a randomly selected sample of subjects aged 20-69 years in 1996 living in Stockholm, Sweden. The response rate was 72% and 83%, respectively, and in total 4479 subjects participated in both surveys. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess risk factors.
Results: The cumulative incidence of allergic rhinitis was 10.9% (men 9.6%; women 12.0%, p=0.03). Subjects raised on the countryside had a higher incidence than those raised in the city (11.9% vs. 8.1%, p=0.04). However, when stratifying the analysis by age, this was only true in ages 60-69 years (9.1% vs. 1.9%, p=0.02). In subjects raised in the city, the incidence decreased markedly with increasing age (20-29 years 19.7%; 60-69 years 1.9%, p<0.01), while the incidence was more stable over age in those raised on the countryside (20-29 years 16.1%; 60-69 years 9.1%, p<0.01). Family history of allergy (OR 1.55, CI 95% 1.14-2.10) and young age were determinants for incident allergic rhinitis.
Conclusion: We found a high incidence of allergic rhinitis. The incidence varied by age, sex and childhood environment. Our results further suggest that the onset of allergic rhinitis is delayed in subjects raised on the countryside as compared to those raised in the city.
- © 2014 ERS