Risk factors of allergic rhinitis: A case-control study

Abstract

Objective: Allergic rhinitis is a major respiratory disorder and represents a global health concern. Its prevalence is increasing over the last decades and the reasons for this increase are not completely clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with allergic rhinitis in the adult Serbian population. Method: A case-control study of 100 outpatients with allergic rhinitis and 100 control subjects was conducted in Belgrade, Serbia in 2006. Cases and controls were matched by sex and age (± 5 years). A detailed questionnaire based on the latest research results in this field was used to obtain information about known risk factors. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used for statistical analysis. Results: The following factors were dependently associated with occurrence of allergic rhinitis: allergic asthma (Odds Ratio [OR], 3.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36-6.64) and atopic dermatitis (OR, 4.24; 95%CI, 1.35-13.31) among family members, allergic rhinitis (OR, 24.07; 95%CI, 3.15-183.89), allergic asthma (OR, 6.22; 95%CI, 1.34-28.87), infections of the airways (OR, 3.49; 95%CI, 1.82-6.72) and drug allergy (OR, 2.95; 95%CI, 1.01-8.61) in childhood, atopic dermatitis (OR, 3.02; 95%CI, 1.03-8.83), sinusitis (OR = 3.34; 95%CI, 1.52-7.35), and breastfeeding in the first months (OR, 2.86; 95%CI, 1.17-6.96). Asthma among family members was the only independent risk factor for allergic rhinitis (OR, Conclusion: Our study indicates potentially important role of both genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of allergic rhinitis.