BackgroundThe 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.MethodsA 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.ResultsA 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).ConclusionPollen‐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.
The clinical epidemiological characteristics of chronic urticaria (CU) in different populations were not completely consistent, and the epidemiological characteristics of CU were very complex. At present, there were some patient-based studies on CU, but few natural population-based studied in the world.
This study aimed to analysis the prevalence of self-reported CU among adults in grasslands of northern China and its closely related factors.
A multistage 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.
A total of 3406 subjects completed the study. The prevalence of self-reported CU was 5.61% (n = 191), which was higher in women than that of men (6.91% vs 4.08%, X2 = 12.785, P < .001). Seasonal or seasonal aggravation CU accounted for 110 (57.59%) patients. Pollen dispersal season was basically consistent with the peak season of CU, but there was no significant difference in the positive rate of pollen SPT between CU with seasonal or seasonal aggravation symptom and CU with free of symptom (X
2
= 0.425, P = .51), as well as between CU with seasonal or seasonal aggravation symptom and perennial CU (X
2 = 0.439, P = .51). Eczema (odds ratio [OR] = 2.807, P < .001), chronic diarrhea (OR = 2.486, P < .01), food allergy history (OR = 1.890, P < .01), history of family allergy (OR = 1.800, P < .001), and conjunctivitis (OR = 1.749, P < .01) were closely related to CU.
This investigation provided the factors closely related to CU, and provided certain ideas for further research on the etiology and prevention of CU.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.