title: Prevalence and triggers of allergic rhinitis in the United Arab Emirates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Allergic rhinitis is a morbid condition that is frequently overlooked by patients and physicians. This type of atopy has not been adequately investigated in the United Arab Emirates.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional, population-based observational study was conducted in the seven Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Fujairah). It used the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS II) to screen for allergic rhinitis in people living in this region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptoms of allergic rhinitis were present in 85 (7%) of the 1,229 study population. Only 33 (39%) patients received treatment. Seventy-six (89%) patients had asthma. Thirty-seven (44%) patients were poly-sensitized. Symptoms were aggravated by dust (59%), grass/pollens (44%) and proximity to animals (21%). Winter was the peak season (37%), followed by spring (30%), autumn (18%) and summer (15%). Grass/pollen allergies were clustered in the winter, spring and summer (p ≤ 0.001). Dust was non-seasonal (p ≥ 0.121) and animal allergy was worse in the winter (p = 0.024) and spring (p = 0.044). Spring symptoms were less common in people living in the inner city (p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At least 7% of the studied population had allergic rhinitis. Most (71%) of these patients had environmental triggers and remained untreated. Allergic rhinitis awareness and measures to control allergens and dust are needed. The impact of preventing allergic rhinitis on other common atopies in the region deserves future studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, UAE.
authors.forename: Bassam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mahboub
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al-Ain, Dubai, UAE.
authors.forename: Suleiman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Hammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, UAE.
authors.forename: Vijayshree P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.affiliation: Department of Family & Community Medicine, Sharjah University, Sharjah, UAE.
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Centre, Memphis, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Blaiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Al-Qassimi Hospital, Sharjah, Dubai, UAE.
authors.forename: Abdulla Al
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Redha
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Al-Qassimi Hospital, Sharjah, Dubai, UAE.
authors.forename: Deepa M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Vats
keywords: Air pollution; Allergens; Constructions; Fine dust; Gulf region; Nasal mucosa; Pollen
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