title: Urban-rural differences in the prevalence of allergen sensitization and self-reported rhinitis in the elderly population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urbanization is frequently associated with allergic conditions during childhood; however, the literature lacks studies on the association between allergies and degree of urbanization in the elderly population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine how the degree of urbanization affects the prevalence of allergic sensitization and self-reported rhinitis symptoms in elderly community populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 1,311 elderly subjects identified from 2 community population cohort datasets who were divided into 3 groups according to the degree of urbanization (urban, semirural, and rural) where they resided. Current rhinitis symptoms were assessed using a questionnaire. Sensitization to inhalant allergen was measured using skin prick tests for 9 common allergens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sensitization to inhalant allergen showed a positive correlation with degree of urbanization (urban 17.2%, semirural 9.8%, rural 6.0%; P for trend <.001), with a significant correlation observed between house dust mite allergens and degree of urbanization. Self-reported rhinitis symptoms were mostly nonallergic, but showed a positive correlation with degree of urbanization (urban 26.8%, semirural 18.2%, rural 11.5%; P for trend <.001). Self-reported rhinoconjunctivitis also correlated with urbanization. Correlations between self-reported allergic conditions and urbanization remained statistically significant in multivariate logistic regression tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present analyses found significant correlations between degree of urbanization with self-reported rhinitis symptoms and sensitization to inhalant allergen in the elderly population. These findings warrant further investigation of the roles that urban factors play in the development of elderly rhinitis and allergen sensitization.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Woo-Jung
authors: WJ
authors: Song
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Kyoung-Hee
authors: KH
authors: Sohn
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Min-Gyu
authors: MG
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Han-Ki
authors: HK
authors: Park
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors: Mi-Yeong
authors: MY
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors: Sae-Hoon
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors: Min Kyung
authors: MK
authors: Lim
authors: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Min-Ho
authors: MH
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea; Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University College of Natural Sciences, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ki Woong
authors: KW
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sang-Heon
authors: SH
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Kyung-Up
authors: KU
authors: Min
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea. Electronic address: addchang@snu.ac.kr.
authors: Yoon-Seok
authors: YS
authors: Chang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012424:Rural Population; D057566:Self Report; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D014507:Urbanization
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides