Association between air pollution and the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in Chinese children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common chronic inflammatory disease with bothersome symptoms. However, the effect of air pollution on the prevalence of AR in children is controversial.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the association between air pollution and the prevalence of AR in Chinese children.

Methods

This study, in China, included 160,356 students ages 0-18 years who completed a questionnaire about the accuracy of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). The effect of different air pollutants on the prevalence rate were evaluated by meta-analysis. Also, it evaluated the effect of different air pollutants on the prevalence rate.

Results

The differences in the effects of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) exposure (combined odds ratio [ORcombined] 1.03 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.01-1.05]; p = 0.010) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) exposure (ORcombined 1.11 [95% CI, 1.05-1.18]; p = 0.0006) on the risk of childhood AR was statistically significant. The effect of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of <10 μm (PM10) exposure on the risk of childhood AR was statistically significant (ORcombined 1.02 [95% CI, 1.01-1.03]; p < 0.001), the effect of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of <2.5 μm (PM2.5) exposure on the risk of childhood AR was statistically significant (ORcombined 1.15 [95% CI, 1.03-1.29]; p = 0.02), and the effect of ozone exposure on the risk of childhood AR was not statistically significant (ORcombined 0.98 [95% CI, 0.67-1.41]; p = 0.13).

Conclusion

NO₂, SO₂, PM2.5, and PM10 were associated with the prevalence of AR in Chinese children. PM2.5 had the highest correlation with AR prevalence.