title: Epidemiology of allergic rhinitis in allergy consultations in Spain: Alergológica-2005.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic rhinitis (AR) is considered to be the most frequent allergic disorder.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present the data from the Alergológica-2005 on the characteristics of patients with AR.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional epidemiologic study was performed on 4991 patients consulting for the first time in Allergology services in Spain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-five percent of patients consulting Allergology services for the first time were diagnosed with AR, of whom 65% also had conjunctivitis and 37% asthma. Two out of every three subjects with AR consulted their primary care physician twice in the previous 4 months. One third was treated by another specialist in the preceding year and one of every five required treatment in emergency departments. AR affected the quality of life (SF-12), in some cases causing time off work and school. The most frequently involved allergens were pollens (51%), followed by dust mites (42%). Polysensitization was found in 31% of cases. Antihistamines and nasal topical corticoids were the most widely used drugs. In 38% of patients, treatment with specific immunotherapy was begun.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AR was the leading cause of consultations in Alergológica-2005. Rhinitis was frequently associated with other allergic disorders in 65% of patients with conjunctivitis and 37% with asthma. The illness led to a substantial use of healthcare resources and significantly affected the quality of life of the sufferers.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Hospital El Tomillar, AH de Valme, Sevilla, Spain. anam.navarro.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colás
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Antón
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Conde
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dávila
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Dordal
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernández-Parre
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ibáñez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lluch-Bernal
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Matheu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montoro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rondón
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology