The Spectrum and Age-Sex Patterns Among Outpatients with Allergic Diseases — Yichang City, Hubei Province, China, 2018–2021

Abstract

What is already known about this topic? Allergic diseases have affected an estimated 40% of the population in China. However, our understanding of the full spectrum of these diseases remains insufficient. What is added by this report? Between 2018 and 2021, Yichang City documented 625,929 outpatient visits mainly related to skin and mucous membrane allergies (77.90%) and allergic respiratory conditions (19.64%). In 2021, the occurrence of outpatient visits for conditions such as allergic rhinitis, acute atopic conjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis increased. The demographic analysis revealed that male patients comprised the majority of the under 18 age bracket (56.05%), while female patients were predominantly represented in the 18 to 65 age bracket (61.79%). What are the implications for public health practice? This constitutes the first analysis of the spectrum of allergic diseases, utilizing regional outpatient data, which has substantial implications for understanding the disease burden.