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TOPLINE:

Girls had a higher incidence of allergic rhinitis (AR) than boys, and boys had higher remission rates than girls, data from Sweden showed. Early sensitization increased the risk for AR and reduced the odds of remission.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a population-based cohort study of 2250 children in three municipalities in northern Sweden.
• The study began in 2006 when the children were 8 years old, and included a follow-up survey between 2016 and 2017 when they turned 19.
• A subset of 1338 participants underwent skin prick tests for common airborne allergens, including birch, timothy, mugwort, dog, cat, and horse.
• The validated International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was completed by parents when the participants were 8 years old and by participants themselves at age 19 years.

TAKEAWAY:

• The cumulative incidence rate of AR from 8 to 19 years of age was 33.6%, with a significantly higher rate for girls than for boys (37.4% vs 29.8%; P < .001).
• The prevalence of AR increased from 15.6% at age 8 years to 37.7% at age 19 years (P < .001).
• The overall remission rate of AR was 40%, with boys showing significantly higher remission than girls (45.4% vs 32.2%; P = .015).
• Sensitization by age 8 was associated with an increased risk for AR (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.75; 95% CI, 2.68-5.23) and decreased remission probability (aOR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.13-0.53). 

IN PRACTICE:

“Our study provides valuable insights into AR progression during childhood and adolescence, highlighting the notable sex differences in incidence and remission rates,” the authors of the study wrote.

SOURCE:

Styliana Vasileiadou, PhD, with the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden, was the corresponding author of the study, which was published online on April 2 in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. 

LIMITATIONS:

The study relied on self-reported data. The researchers lacked information on AR triggers as well as the incidence of AR and sensitization before age 8 years.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, the Swedish Asthma-Allergy Foundation, the Swedish Research Council, and other groups. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.