title: Prevalence of rhinitis in Polish population according to the ECAP (Epidemiology of Allergic Disorders in Poland) study.
abstract: The prevalence of allergic disorders, especially allergic rhinitis (AR), has dramatically increased in the past few decades and multicentre, standardized, randomized epidemiological studies are required to quantify this phenomenon in Poland.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of rhinitis and allergic rhinitis in Poland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ECAP study was conducted using the ECRHS II and ISAAC questionnaires translated into the Polish language and validated, in selected nine regions of Poland, including eight cities and one rural area. The respondents within the regions were selected by means of multistage proportional stratified random sampling based on the identity number (PESEL) as the operat. The survey was conducted in 20,454 subjects (response rate of 41.9%) and 18,617 questionnaires were valid. Approximately 25% of the subjects (n=4783) were subsequently evaluated by clinicians (response rate of 43.4%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rhinitis was self-reported by 36.08% of the respondents (37.8% of 6- 7-year-olds, 34.5% of 13- 14-year-olds, and 36.0% of adults). The lowest prevalence rate was in the rural region (22.9%). Allergic rhinitis (AR) was self-reported by 22.54% of the respondents (23.6% of 6- 7-year-olds, 24.6% of 13- 14-year-olds, and 21.0% of adults). Again, the lowest prevalence rate was in the rural region (16.0%). AR was more frequent in males (24.0%) than in females (21.2%) (OR = 1.079; 95% CI: 1.044-1.116). AR was actually diagnosed by a clinician in 28.9%, including intermittent AR in 47.7% and persistent AR in 52.3%. Seasonal AR was diagnosed in 15.55%, and perennial rhinitis in 15.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergic rhinitis is common in Poland as it affects nearly 25% of the population and it is a major social problem. Standards of early detection and prevention of allergic rhinitis should be introduced.
authors.forename: Bolesław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Samoliński
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sybilski
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raciborski
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomaszewska
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Samel-Kowalik
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walkiewicz
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lusawa
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Borowicz
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gutowska-Slesik
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trzpil
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marszałkowska
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jakubik
authors.forename: Edyta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krzych
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Komorowski
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lipiec
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gotlib
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Samolińska-Zawisza
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hałat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult