Prevalence and triggers of allergic rhinitis in the United Arab Emirates
Background and objectives Allergic rhinitis is a morbid condition that is frequently overlooked by patients and physicians. This type of atopy has not been adequately investigated in the United Arab Emirates.Methods This cross-sectional, population-based observational study was conducted in the seve...
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doaj-afcec27ff26140f8a52a79cab9cf14432020-11-25T01:18:41ZengElsevierWorld Allergy Organization Journal1939-45512014-01-017Prevalence and triggers of allergic rhinitis in the United Arab EmiratesBassam Mahboub0Suleiman Al-Hammadi1Vijayshree P. Prakash2Nabil Sulaiman3Michael S. Blaiss4Abdulla Al Redha5Deepa M. Vats6Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, UAEDepartment of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al-Ain, Dubai, UAE; Correspondence:Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, UAEDepartment of Family & Community Medicine, Sharjah University, Sharjah, UAEDepartment of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Centre, Memphis, TennesseeDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Al-Qassimi Hospital, Sharjah, Dubai, UAEDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Al-Qassimi Hospital, Sharjah, Dubai, UAEBackground and objectives Allergic rhinitis is a morbid condition that is frequently overlooked by patients and physicians. This type of atopy has not been adequately investigated in the United Arab Emirates.Methods This cross-sectional, population-based observational study was conducted in the seven Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Fujairah). It used the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS II) to screen for allergic rhinitis in people living in this region.Results Symptoms of allergic rhinitis were present in 85 (7%) of the 1,229 study population. Only 33 (39%) patients received treatment. Seventy-six (89%) patients had asthma. Thirty-seven (44%) patients were poly-sensitized. Symptoms were aggravated by dust (59%), grass/pollens (44%) and proximity to animals (21%). Winter was the peak season (37%), followed by spring (30%), autumn (18%) and summer (15%). Grass/pollen allergies were clustered in the winter, spring and summer (p ≤ 0.001). Dust was non-seasonal (p ≥ 0.121) and animal allergy was worse in the winter (p = 0.024) and spring (p = 0.044). Spring symptoms were less common in people living in the inner city (p = 0.003).Conclusions At least 7% of the studied population had allergic rhinitis. Most (71%) of these patients had environmental triggers and remained untreated. Allergic rhinitis awareness and measures to control allergens and dust are needed. The impact of preventing allergic rhinitis on other common atopies in the region deserves future studies. Keywords: Allergens, Nasal mucosa, Pollen, Air pollution, Fine dust, Constructions, Gulf regionhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455119302492 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Bassam Mahboub Suleiman Al-Hammadi Vijayshree P. Prakash Nabil Sulaiman Michael S. Blaiss Abdulla Al Redha Deepa M. Vats |
spellingShingle |
Bassam Mahboub Suleiman Al-Hammadi Vijayshree P. Prakash Nabil Sulaiman Michael S. Blaiss Abdulla Al Redha Deepa M. Vats Prevalence and triggers of allergic rhinitis in the United Arab Emirates World Allergy Organization Journal |
author_facet |
Bassam Mahboub Suleiman Al-Hammadi Vijayshree P. Prakash Nabil Sulaiman Michael S. Blaiss Abdulla Al Redha Deepa M. Vats |
author_sort |
Bassam Mahboub |
title |
Prevalence and triggers of allergic rhinitis in the United Arab Emirates |
title_short |
Prevalence and triggers of allergic rhinitis in the United Arab Emirates |
title_full |
Prevalence and triggers of allergic rhinitis in the United Arab Emirates |
title_fullStr |
Prevalence and triggers of allergic rhinitis in the United Arab Emirates |
title_full_unstemmed |
Prevalence and triggers of allergic rhinitis in the United Arab Emirates |
title_sort |
prevalence and triggers of allergic rhinitis in the united arab emirates |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
World Allergy Organization Journal |
issn |
1939-4551 |
publishDate |
2014-01-01 |
description |
Background and objectives Allergic rhinitis is a morbid condition that is frequently overlooked by patients and physicians. This type of atopy has not been adequately investigated in the United Arab Emirates.Methods This cross-sectional, population-based observational study was conducted in the seven Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Fujairah). It used the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS II) to screen for allergic rhinitis in people living in this region.Results Symptoms of allergic rhinitis were present in 85 (7%) of the 1,229 study population. Only 33 (39%) patients received treatment. Seventy-six (89%) patients had asthma. Thirty-seven (44%) patients were poly-sensitized. Symptoms were aggravated by dust (59%), grass/pollens (44%) and proximity to animals (21%). Winter was the peak season (37%), followed by spring (30%), autumn (18%) and summer (15%). Grass/pollen allergies were clustered in the winter, spring and summer (p ≤ 0.001). Dust was non-seasonal (p ≥ 0.121) and animal allergy was worse in the winter (p = 0.024) and spring (p = 0.044). Spring symptoms were less common in people living in the inner city (p = 0.003).Conclusions At least 7% of the studied population had allergic rhinitis. Most (71%) of these patients had environmental triggers and remained untreated. Allergic rhinitis awareness and measures to control allergens and dust are needed. The impact of preventing allergic rhinitis on other common atopies in the region deserves future studies. Keywords: Allergens, Nasal mucosa, Pollen, Air pollution, Fine dust, Constructions, Gulf region |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455119302492 |
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