Influencing factors of allergic rhinitis and rhinitis-related symptoms among preschool children in Urumqi city: a cross-sectional survey

  Objective  To examine the prevalence and influencing factors of physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis and parent-reported rhinitis-related symptoms among preschool children in Urumqi city, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for providing evidence to the prevention and control of the illness in the children.

  Methods  A self-administered survey was conducted among 10 000 children aged 2 – 7 years in 60 kindergartens selected with stratified random cluster sampling in Urumqi city during August – December 2019. A questionnaire was designed based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) and Dampness in Buildings and Health (DBH) and the questionnaire was answered by the children's parents or guardians. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS 26.0.

  Results  Of the 8 153 preschool children with valid information, 7.6% were reported having been diagnosed as allergic rhinitis and 27.4% ever having experienced rhinitis-related symptoms. The results of unconditional multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the children with following characteristics were more likely to have allergic rhinitis: at elder age (5 – 7 year vs. 2 years: odds ratioOR = 1.36, 95% confidence interval 95%CI: 1.04 – 1.80), being only child (OR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.04 – 1.48), being born by cesarean section (versus vaginal delivery: OR = 1.21, 95%CI: 1.02 – 1.44), paternal history of rhinitis (OR = 2.50, 95% CI: 2.10 – 2.98), maternal history of rhinitis (OR = 3.29, 95%CI: 2.76 – 3.91), paternal history of asthma (OR = 1.95, 95%CI: 1.02 – 3.74), with larger living space ( ≥ 75 m² vs. < 75 m²: OR = 1.25, 95%CI: 1.01 – 1.56), maternal exposure to new furniture at home during pregnancy (OR = 1.79, 95%CI:1.28 – 2.51), and having indoor decoration at home at the age of 0 – 1 year (OR = 1. 82, 95%CI: 1.19 – 2.79) ; while the children being girl (OR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.67 – 0.94) and living in a house with lime/cement as wallcovering (versus wallpaper: OR = 0.39, 95%CI: 0.16 – 0.98) were less likely to have allergic rhinitis; the results also revealed significant influencing factors of rhinitis-related symptoms as following: being only child (OR = 1.22, 95%CI: 1.10 – 1.36), being born by cesarean section (versus vaginal delivery: OR = 1.14, 95%CI: 1.02 – 1.26), paternal history of rhinitis (OR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.93 – 2.42), maternal history of rhinitis (OR = 2.38, 95%CI: 2.13 – 2.67), paternal history of asthma (OR = 2.22, 95%CI: 1.34 – 3.69), living in a house with the floor covered by composite material (versus wood: OR = 1.53, 95%CI: 1.28 – 1.84) or tile/stone/cement (versus wood: OR = 1.28, 95%CI: 1.11 – 1.49 ), maternal exposure to new furniture at home during pregnancy (OR = 1.28, 95%CI: 1.03 – 1.60), with beddings being aired in sunny day frequently (OR = 1.42, 95%CI: 1.18 – 1.71), and with indoor cultivation of flowering plant at home at the age of 0 – 1 year (OR = 1.27, 95%CI: 1.11 – 1.46) and protective factors including being girl (OR = 0.87, 95%CI: 0.78 – 0.96), longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding (≥ 6 months vs. < 6 months: OR = 0.86, 95%CI: 0.77 – 0.96), and living in a house with material other than water based paint/emulsion paint/oily paint/board/lime/cement/seaweed mud as wallcovering (versus wallpaper: OR = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.29 – 0.64).

  Conclusion  Among preschool children in Urumqi city, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and rhinitis-related symptoms were relatively high and mainly influenced by genetic factors and residential indoor environment.