Journal List > Allergy Asthma Respir Dis > v.1(4) > 1094428

Hwang, Jung, Lim, Son, Kim, Yang, Oh, Kim, Lee, Lee, Kim, Hong, and Lee: Epidemiology of allergic rhinitis in Korean children

Abstract

Purpose

The diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (AR) is based upon the concordance between a history of allergic symptoms and diagnostic tests. This study is to investigate the epidemiology of AR by using data from National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) and data according to the AR definition in general students health screening.

Methods

We examined medical insurance claims data of NHIC from 2004 to 2010 according to age, area, and gender. We investigated the results of Korean International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaires and skin prick tests of 14,133 students participated in health screening from 2010 to 2012.

Results

The prevalence of AR according to the NHIC data was elementary school students (24.34%); middle school students (13.75%) and high school students (12.17%). The prevalence of AR was higher in boy than in girl, annually. In health screening, the prevalence of AR was elementary school students (19.50%±0.26); middle school students (23.19%±0.30) and high school students (24.11%±0.31). The prevalence of AR had peaking at the age late teens (P<0.0001) and was higher in boy (26.49%±0.38) than in girl (17.43%±0.35) (P<0.0001). Sensitization rate of allergen in students with AR was house dust mite (86.71%±0.48); pollen (41.26%±1.01) and molds (14.80%±0.52).

Conclusion

The prevalence according to the AR definition tended to be increased with aging in Korean children. There are some differences in the prevalence of AR in the data of NHIC and health screening study. Further investigation will be needed to reveal the causes of this difference.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Changes in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis from NHIC data* in Korea 2004-2010, according to age. *NHIC data: medical insurance claims data of National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC). The prevalence of allergic rhinitis from NHIC data have been increased annually (2004-2010) in whole population, peaking at the age 3-4.
aard-1-321-g001
Table 1
The prevalence of allergic rhinitis according to age, gender
aard-1-321-i001

Values are presented as number (%).

Adapted from NHIC data* in Korea 2004-2010.

*The prevalence of allergic rhinitis from NHIC data: medical claim data at National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC)/total population.

Table 2
Demographic data of health screening in Korean school students
aard-1-321-i002

Values are presented as number (%).

*Korean International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaires, 'symptom, last 12 months.'

Table 3
The Prevalence of allergic rhinitis in questionnaires and questionnaires with skin prick test of health screening in Korean school students, according to age and gender
aard-1-321-i003

Values are presented as number (%±95% confidence interval).

*Korean International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaires.

Table 4
The Prevalence of allergic rhinitis in questionnaires and questionnaires with skin prick test of health screening, according to area and gender
aard-1-321-i004

Values are presented as number (%±95% confidence interval).

*Korean International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaires. Incheon and Gyeonggi-do.

Table 5
Trend of sensitization rate of house dust mite, pollen and mold in children with allergic rhinitis* in Korean school students, according to age and gender
aard-1-321-i005

Values are presented as number (%±95% confidence interval).

*Children with allergic rhinitis: 'symptom, last 12 months' from Korean International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaires and positive skin prick test in health screening.

Table 6
Trend of sensitization rate of house dust mite, pollen and mold in children with allergic rhinitis*, according to area and gender
aard-1-321-i006

Values are presented as number (%±95% confidence interval).

*Children with allergic rhinitis: 'symptom, last 12 months' from Korean International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaires and positive skin prick test in health screening. Incheon and Gyeonggi-do.

Table 7
The comorbidity for allergic diseases in health screening
aard-1-321-i007

Values are presented as number (%±95% confidence interval).

*,†Data of 'symptom, last 12 months' from Korean International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaires. Data of 'symptom, last 12 months' from Korean ISAAC questionnaires and positive skin prick test.

Table 8
The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in NHIC* and health screening
aard-1-321-i008

Values are presented as number (%±95% confidence interval).

NHIC, National Health Insurance Corporation; Elementary, 7-12 years; Middle, 13-15 years; High, 16-18 years.

*Medical claim data at National Health Insurance Corporation in 7 to 18 ages. Data of 'symptom, last 12 months' from Korean International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaires and positive skin prick test.

Notes

This study was supported by a grant of Ministry of Environment.

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SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

Supplementary material can be found via http://www.aard.or.kr/src/sm/aard-1-321-s001.pdf. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis from NHIC data in Korea 2004-2010, according to age, gender and area.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

The prevalence of allergic rhinitis from NHIC data* in Korea 2004-2010, according to age, gender and area
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