Epidemiology of urticaria in Poland – nationally representative survey results

Abstract

IntroductionThe prevalence of urticaria is 15–20%. Women are twice as likely to be affected.AimTo present the epidemiology of urticaria and angioedema in Poland.Material and methodsA questionnaire-based survey was conducted on a representative group of 4,897 individuals, aged 15–74 years.ResultsA total of 11.2% of respondents reported at least one episode of urticaria symptoms in their life, and the frequency was higher in females (OR = 1.46; p < 0.001). Single episodes accounted for 34.8%, while repeated episodes accounted for 65.2%. Acute urticaria was observed in 10.6% (more frequent in females; OR = 1.41; p < 0.001), chronic in 0.6%. Median age of the first episode was 15 years. Angioedema was observed in 3.2%. The last episode of urticaria symptoms and/or angioedema occurred within the previous week in 0.7% of subjects, the last month in 1%, and the last year in 2.2%. 8.8% had experienced urticaria symptoms or angioedema over 1 year prior to the survey. The impact of urticaria symptoms on patients’ daily activities was rated with 3.8 points on a scale of 0–10. In addition, chronic urticaria was rated 6.5, and acute urticaria 3.6. Angioedema and urticaria had a negative impact of 5.7 points.ConclusionsUrticaria and angioedema are serious health problems in Poland, although their prevalence is below the mean rate for the global population. Females are more likely to suffer from these diseases. People affected by urticaria most frequently report contact with plants and substances, insect bites/stings, and food as the provoking factors.

Prevalence and potential risk factors of urticaria in the Polish population of children and adolescents

“…Parents of children of 7–8 years of age and adolescents aged 16–17 living and attending schools in Krakow, Poland, were asked to participate in the study. A questionnaire originally designed for the purposes of the EUP study [ 4 ] adapted to the age group included 19 closed and semi-closed questions. Questions referred to the occurrence of urticaria and/or angioedema episodes in participants and causative factors that, in the respondents’ opinion, could have contributed to their occurrence ( Appendix 1 ).…”

Investigation of self-reported chronic urticaria among adults in grasslands of northern China

“…The prevalence rates of CU were different in different parts of the world. For example, the prevalence rate in Spain and Poland was 0.6%, [ 13 , 14 ] that of Taiwan was 0.79%, [ 6 ] and that of South Korea was 3.08%. [ 7 ] The prevalence of self-reported CU in adults in this survey was 5.61% and the seasonal incidence was 57.59%.…”

“…This survey found that women had a higher prevalence rate than men, with a risk of about 1.511 times as much as men, which was consistent with some reports. [ 7 , 14 , 15 ] It was possible that CU was related to autoimmune mechanisms, and autoimmune diseases were frequently associated with women.…”

The effect of levocetirizine and montelukast on clinical symptoms, serum level and skin expression of COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes in patients suffering from chronic autoimmune urticaria – a pilot study

“…Urticaria is typically classified as spontaneous or physical based on the appearance of symptoms, these being spontaneous or triggered by physical factors. In Poland, 0.6% of the population (95% CI: 0.4-0.8%) suffered from chronic spontaneous urticaria, with women being affected more often than men (0.8% vs. 0.3%; p < 0.05) [1]. As many as 50% of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patients have an autoimmune etiology [2].…”