[The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in the adult urban population of Denizli].
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in the adult urban population of Denizli.


METHODS
A survey study was conducted to cover 1010 adults above 19 years of age, representing the urban population of Denizli district, Turkey. A questionnaire was designed to collect data on sociodemographic features, symptoms of allergic rhinitis, duration of symptoms, and any prior diagnosis of allergic rhinitis made by a physician. Interviews were made with randomly chosen adults from three socioeconomically different urban areas.


RESULTS
Interviews were completed for 951 adults with ages ranging from 19 to 65 years (414 males, mean age 36.3+/-12 years; 537 females, mean age 35.2+/-12 years). The frequency of self-reported allergic rhinitis was 10.8%, and 5.2% had allergic rhinitis diagnosed by a physician. Two or more symptoms of allergic rhinitis were found in 7.2%. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was higher in females. There was no relationship between the frequency of allergic rhinitis and age.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in the adult urban population of Denizli is between 5% to 10%, with a higher frequency in females.
Topuz
Bülent
B
Department of Otolaryngology, Medicine Faculty of Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
Kara
Cüneyt Orhan
CO
Ardiç
Necdet
N
Zercir
Mehmet
M
Kadiköylü
Soner
S
Tümkaya
Funda
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population