Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2015 Jul;3(4):272-280. 10.4168/aard.2015.3.4.272.

The prevalence and risk factors of allergic rhinitis from a nationwide study of Korean elementary, middle, and high school students

• Kim Y
• Seo JH
• Kwon JW
• Lee E
• Yang SI
• Cho HJ
• Ha M
• Burm E
• Lee KJ
• Kim HC
• Lim S
• Kang HT
• Son M
• Kim SY
• Cheong HK
• Kim YM
• Oh GJ
• Sakong J
• Lee CG
• Kim SJ
• Beak YW
• Hong SJ

• KMID: 2218657
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2015.3.4.272

Abstract

PURPOSE
We investigated the prevalence and risk factors of allergic rhinitis (AR), nationwide in random children and adolescents of Korea.
METHODS
A modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire survey was done in 1,820 children from elementary, middle, and high school nationwide in Korea. The subjects were selected by the stratifying sampling method by school grade and five regions. Current AR was defined as having AR symptoms during the last 12 months with a history of physician-diagnosed AR. Skin prick tests for 18 common allergens were performed.
RESULTS
The number of males was 945, and that of females was 875. The mean age of the patients was 12.61+/-3.40 years. The prevalence of current AR and atopic current AR were 29.0% and 18.7%, respectively. Risk factors for current AR were male (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.486; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.189-1.856), family history of paternal AR (aOR, 3.208; 95% CI, 2.460-4.182), family history of maternal AR (aOR, 3.138; 95% CI, 2.446-4.025), antibiotic use in infancy (aOR, 1.547; 95% CI, 1.228-1.949), mold exposure during infancy (aOR, 1.416; 95% CI, 1.103-1.819), mold exposure during the last 12 months (aOR, 1.285; 95% CI, 1.012-1.630), and sensitization on skin prick tests (aOR, 2.596; 95% CI, 2.055-3.279). Risk factors for atopic current AR were the same as those of current AR, whereas breast-milk feeding (aOR, 0.720; 95% CI, 0.530-0.976) was a protective factor. Sensitized allergens as risk factors for current AR were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farina, ragweed, mugwort, oak, alder, birch, Japanese hop, cat, and dog.
CONCLUSION
The prevalences of current AR and atopic current AR were 29.0% and 18.7%, respectively. Male, sex parental AR, antibiotic use in infancy, mold exposure during the last 12 months, mold exposure during infancy, and atopic sensitization were risk factors for current AR. Breast-milk feeding was a protective factor for atopic current AR. Aeroallergen sensitization was an important risk factor for AR.

Keyword

Allergic rhinitis; Prevalence; Risk factors; Sensitization; Child

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Allergens
Alnus
Ambrosia
Animals
Artemisia
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Asthma
Betula
Cats
Child
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
Dogs
Female
Fungi
Humans
Humulus
Hypersensitivity
Korea
Male
Odds Ratio
Parents
Prevalence*
Pyroglyphidae
Rhinitis*
Risk Factors*
Skin
Allergens

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The prevalence of current AR, rhinitis with sensitization and atopic current AR according to age. AR, allergic rhinitis. *Current AR: diagnosis ever plus symptoms within last 12 months. †Rhinitis with sensitization, last 12 mo: symptoms within last 12 months plus allergen sensitization. ‡Atopic current AR: current AR plus allergen sensitization.

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