Allergic rhinitis in northern vietnam: increased risk of urban living according to a large population survey

Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known about prevalence and risk factors of allergic rhinitis and chronic nasal symptoms among adults in Vietnam. We aimed to estimate the prevalence, risk factor patterns and co-morbidities of allergic rhinitis and chronic nasal symptoms in one urban and one rural area in northern Vietnam.MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted from August 2007 to January 2008 in urban Hoankiem and rural Bavi in Hanoi among adults aged 21-70 years. Of 7008 randomly selected subjects, 91.7% participated in Bavi and 70.3% in Hoankiem.ResultsAllergic rhinitis ever or chronic nasal symptoms were reported by 50.2%. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis ever was considerably higher in Hoankiem compared to Bavi, 29.6% vs 10.0% (p < 0.001). Allergic rhinitis ever and chronic nasal symptoms were both significantly associated with asthma and respiratory symptoms, respectively (p < 0.001). Exposure to gas, dust or fumes at work was significantly associated with allergic rhinitis ever, OR 1.57 (95% CI 1.34 - 1.84), nasal blocking, OR 1.90 (95% CI 1.68 - 2.15) and runny nose, OR 1.32 (95% CI 1.17 - 1.49), while somewhat surprisingly no association with smoking was found. Female sex was a significant risk factor for both nasal blocking and runny nose.ConclusionsAllergic rhinitis ever was considerably more common in the urban area. Nasal blocking and runny nose was each reported by about one third of the studied sample with no major urban-rural difference. Further, exposure to air pollution at work was significantly associated with allergic rhinitis ever, nasal blocking and runny nose.

Features of sensitization and quality of life of patients with allergic rhinitis: A study in North Viet Nam

“…This indicator corresponds with the 2014 study by H.T. Lam, which found that the prevalence of AR in the central/rural areas of Hanoi, versus the capital of Vietnam located in the north of Vietnam, was 30% and 10%, respectively 17 . An analysis of risk factors confirmed that urban lifestyle poses a risk for AR, with occupational exposure to dust, gases, and vapors 18 .…”

“…For comparison, there are no published data on the prevalence of chronic AR symptoms in Southeast Asia; these symptoms have also rarely been studied in other countries. In a recent European study, prevalence of runny nose was reported as 20% in the United Kingdom; in Western Sweden the prevalence of nasal congestion was reported as 15% and chronic runny nose as 13% 17 .…”

Immunoglobulin deficiency in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis: Systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis

“…The reported prevalence of CRS in industrialized countries is 11% to 14%, [3][4][5] whereas the prevalence seems to be as high as 30% in developing countries. [6][7][8] CRS is a complex disease with multiple causes, including allergies, rhinosinonasal anatomic malformations, and local secretory or systemic immunoglobulin deficiencies. 3 The most frequent immunoglobulin deficiencies are IgG subclass deficiencies, with an estimated prevalence of 2% to 20% 9,10 ; vaccine specific antibody deficiencies (SADs), with an estimated prevalence of 5% to 11% 11,12 ; selective IgA deficiency, with a frequency of 0.2% to 0.3% 9,13 ; unspecified IgG deficiency 14 ; rare selective IgM deficiencies 10,14 ; and common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), with an estimated prevalence of 0.004%.…”

Prevalence and etiology of allergic rhinitis in the conditions of North Vietnam the countries of South-East Asia

“…Опубликовано несколько работ по распространенности АР среди взрослого населения Юго-Восточной Азии [16] . Так, встречаемость АР в Гонконге составила 43%, в Индии -26%, в Японии -13-20% [17] .…”

“…Отрицательное влияние на распространенность аллергических заболеваний оказывают процессы индустриализации, урбанизации . Распространенность АР у жителей Ханоя значительно выше, чем у проживающих в сельской местности (29,6 и 10,0% соответственно; p<0,001) [16] . При этом наблюдается уменьшение числа пациентов, стращающихся сезонным АР, но увеличивается в 3-4 раза удельный вес пациентов, сенсибилизированных к домашней и промышленной пыли [20] .…”