Ten-Year trends and prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis among the Korean population, 2008–2017

Abstract

<jats:p>Background: Major questions remain regarding the agestratified trends of allergic diseases and asthma in Korea.Purpose: To identify the estimated recent prevalence and 10- year trends in asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis among the Korean population from 2008 to 2017.Methods: This nationwide cross-sectional survey (Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) over 10 years (2008–2017) examined representative samples of the Korean population (n=85,006) including 2,131 infants, 4,352 preschool children, 12,919 school-age children, 44,200 adults, and 21,404 elderly adults.Results: In the 2016 to 2017 population, the estimated prevalence of asthma was 0.9% in infants, 2.3% in preschool children, 4.1% in school-age children, 2.3% in adults, and 4.1% in the elderly. The estimated prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 9.0%, 20.2%, 27.6%, 17.1%, and 6.9%, respectively. The estimated prevalence of atopic dermatitis was 5.9%, 11.3%, 14.6%, 3.9%, and 1.6%, respectively. Ten-year trends revealed a significant decrease in asthma prevalence in infants, preschool children, and the elderly. and in atopic dermatitis prevalence in infants and preschool children (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.05 for all trends). Furthermore, 10-year trends demonstrated a significant increase in allergic rhinitis prevalence in school-age children, adults, and the elderly, and in atopic dermatitis prevalence in school-age children and the elderly (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.05 for all trends).Conclusion: These results improve our understanding of the age-stratified epidemiology of allergic diseases in Korea and suggest the need for the development of tailored and precise strategies to prevent allergic diseases in different age groups.</jats:p>

Trends in prevalence of allergic diseases in Korean children: how and why?

“…Asthma, a relatively severe respiratory allergic disease, has been decreasing in children and the elderly, whereas allergic rhinitis has been increasing in all age groups above school-age children. 6) The trend in prevalence of atopic dermatitis varies widely among age groups. 6) This shift in the trend suggests that, although the treatment of severe allergic diseases such as asthma is important, we should also pay more attention to managing mild allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis that impact quality of life.…”

“…8) On the contrary, allergic rhinitis has shown interesting increase in prevalence. 6) Humidifier disinfectant use is also a risk factor for allergic rhinitis; demonstrations in rat experiments showed degeneration of the normal nasal epithelium. 9) However, with the decreasing use of humidifier disinfectants, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis has increased while that of asthma has decreased, which defies the concept of a one-airway disease.…”

“…9) However, with the decreasing use of humidifier disinfectants, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis has increased while that of asthma has decreased, which defies the concept of a one-airway disease. 6) Further research is needed to ascertain this opposing change in the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis. In addition, the Ha et al 6) study indicated that environmental pollution, climate change, and especially the exposure to chemicals such as phthalate are crucial factors in the development of allergic rhinitis.…”

“…The prevalence of atopic dermatitis has decreased in infants and preschool children but increased in the elderly age group. 6) In Korea, the increase in breast milk feeding, vaginal delivery, and probiotics consumption might have contributed to the decrease in the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in the younger age group. 10) However, further studies are required to determine the causes of the increasing incidence of atopic dermatitis in elderly individuals.…”

“…In conclusion, the trends in the prevalence of allergic diseases vary among diseases and age groups. 6) An analysis of the underlying causes of allergic diseases is important to formulating countermeasures for such diseases and will provide insight into these trends over the next decade.…”