Asia Pac Allergy.  2012 Apr;2(2):129-135. 10.5415/apallergy.2012.2.2.129.

Prevalence of allergic rhinitis in Filipino adults based on the National Nutrition and Health Survey 2008

• Abong JM
• Kwong SL
• Alava HD
• Castor MA
• De Leon JC

• KMID: 2397366
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5415/apallergy.2012.2.2.129

Abstract

BACKGROUND
There has been no documented data on the prevalence of allergic rhinitis among Filipino adults.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of allergic rhinitis among adults in the Philippines.
METHODS
Using a multi-staged cluster sampling methodology, this study evaluated 7,202 adults from 3,744 households, 79 provinces and 17 regions. A pre-validated written questionnaire for allergic rhinitis based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies of Childhood was used as the survey instrument.
RESULTS
The response rate obtained from the interview was 94.1%. The overall prevalence of nose symptoms in the past 12 months was 20% while prevalence of nose symptoms at any time in the past was 23.8%. The proportion among both sexes was similar. The prevalence was highest among the respondents 40-49 years old. The overall prevalence of nose and eye symptoms for the past twelve months was 14.0%. The prevalence of respondents who reported presence of nose problems for the past twelve months was similar across the 12 months of the year with highest rates noted in the months of June and May. Respondents from the rural area (22.1%) reported a higher prevalence of nose symptoms for the past twelve months compared to respondents from urban area (18%). There was no significant difference in prevalence of nose symptoms among residents living in coastal and/or inland areas.
CONCLUSION
The overall prevalence of allergic rhinitis in the Philippines based on the 2008 National Nutrition and Health Survey is 20.0%.

Keyword

Allergic rhinitis; Surveys; Prevalence; Philippines

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Asthma
Family Characteristics
Health Surveys*
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Nose
Philippines
Prevalence*
Rhinitis, Allergic*
Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Prevalence of nose symptoms by months of the year, 2008, Philippines. Not significantly different across months of the year.

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