title: First comparison of symptom data with allergen content (Bet v 1 and Phl p 5 measurements) and pollen data from four European regions during 2009-2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The level of symptoms in pollen allergy sufferers and users of the Patient's Hayfever Diary (PHD), does not directly reflect the total amount of pollen in the air. It is necessary to explain the symptom load and thus the development of allergic symptoms and to determine which environmental factors, besides the pollen load, influence variables. It seems reasonable to suspect allergen content because the amount of allergen varies throughout seasons and regions and is not always correlated with the total pollen amount.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on the allergen content of ambient air (Bet v 1 and Phl p 5) from 2009 until 2011 was used to compare the respective pollen and symptom loads for study regions in Austria, Germany, France and Finland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our findings suggest that allergen amount (Bet v 1/Phl p 5) has a strong but regionally dependent impact on the symptom load of pollen allergy sufferers. Peak symptom loads can be traced with peak allergen loads. The influence of other important aeroallergens should also be assessed during the pollen season.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergen concentrations have an impact on pollen allergy sufferers although not as clear as assumed previously. The pattern of pollen load and major allergen content distribution does not directly explain the symptom load pattern, although significant positive correlations were found. Thus, monitoring of symptoms via voluntary crowdsourcing should be considered for future pollen and symptom forecasts in order to support pollen allergy sufferers.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Medizinische Universität Wien, Austria. Electronic address: katharina.bastl@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bastl
authors.affiliation: University Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Medizinische Universität Wien, Austria; Department of Paleontology, Universität Wien, Austria.
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kmenta
authors.affiliation: University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Anna-Mari
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pessi
authors.affiliation: Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Marje
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prank
authors.affiliation: University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saarto
authors.affiliation: Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Mikhail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sofiev
authors.affiliation: Charité, Allergy-Centre-Charité, Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Christian
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.affiliation: ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Helmholtz Zentrum München/Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany; CK-CARE, Christine Kühne Centre for Allergy Research and Education, Davos, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jeroen T M
authors.initials: JTM
authors.lastname: Buters
authors.affiliation: RNSA (Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique), Brussieu, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thibaudon
authors.affiliation: University Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Medizinische Universität Wien, Austria.
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.affiliation: University Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Medizinische Universität Wien, Austria.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D011058:Pollen; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens
keywords: Allergen content; Bet v 1; Patient's Hayfever Diary; Phl p 5; Symptom load index