title: The gender, age and risk factor distribution differs in self-reported allergic and non-allergic rhinitis: a cross-sectional population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few population-based studies have assessed the prevalence and the risk factors of non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) in comparison to allergic rhinitis (AR). Moreover, epidemiologic data on rhinitis in the elderly subjects and in southern Europe are scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at estimating the prevalence and at comparing the risk factor distribution of AR and NAR in a general population sample aged 20-84 years in Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and risk factors was administered to random samples of the Italian population aged 20-44 (n = 10,494) 45-64 (n = 2167) and 65-84 (n = 1030) in the frame of the Gene Environment Interactions in Respiratory Diseases (GEIRD) study. Current AR and NAR were defined according to the self-reported presence of nasal allergies or of nasal symptoms without a cold or the flu.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NAR showed a significant descending pattern in females from 12.0 % (95 % CI 11.1, 13.1) in the 20-44 year age class, to 7.5 % (5.4, 10.3) in the 65-84 year age class (p = 0.0009), and a roughly stable pattern in males, from 10.2 % (9.3, 11.2) to 11.1 % (8.4, 13.9) (p = 0.5261). AR decreased from 26.6 % (25.7, 27.6) in 20-44 years age class to 15.6 % (13.3, 18.0) in the 65-84 years age class (p < 0.0001), without gender difference. Subjects living near industrial plants and ex- and current smokers had a higher risk of NAR. Current smokers had a lower risk and subjects living in a Mediterranean climate a higher risk of AR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AR and NAR are fairly distinct conditions, as they have a different age, gender and risk factor distribution.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, c/o Istituti Biologici II, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cazzoletti
authors.affiliation: Unit of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: Unit of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.affiliation: Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, c/o Istituti Biologici II, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verlato
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Antonicelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bono
authors.affiliation: Unit of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casali
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Diseases, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico "San Matteo" Hospital Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Isa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cerveri
authors.affiliation: Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, c/o Istituti Biologici II, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Respiratory Diseases, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pirina
authors.affiliation: Unit of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Villani
authors.affiliation: Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, c/o Istituti Biologici II, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Marco
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Elderly subjects; Environmental exposures; Multilevel model; Non allergic rhinitis