Prevalence and influence factors of allergic diseases among rural residents in Tongren region of Guizhou province

Objective To examine the prevalence and risk factors of allergic diseases among rural residents in Tongren region of Guizhou province and to provide references for implementing corresponding interventions.

Methods We carried out a questionnaire survey, routine examination, skin pricking test of allergen and laboratory examination among 48 867 rural residents aged≥14 years selected from Tongren region with random cluster sampling between January 2017 and March 2018. We used SAS 9.1 in data analyses.

Results The prevalence and the standardized prevalence rate of allergic diseases was 2.39% and 2.31% for all participants. Among a total of 1 170 patients diagnosed, the proportions (number) of various allergic diseases were 29.32% (343) for rhinallergosis, 14.44% (169) for urticaria, 11.62% (136) for idiopathic dermatitis, 9.57% (112) for asthma, 8.80% (103) for allergic cough, 8.72% (102) for angio-edema, 7.95% (93) for contact dermatitis, 7.69% (90) for drug allergy, and 1.88% (22) for food allergy, respectively. The results of multivariate unconditional logistic regression revealed that the risk factors of allergic disease among the participants included male (odds ratio OR = 2.541, 95% confidence interval 95% CI: 1.133 – 3.147), aged < 20 years (OR = 4.345, 95% CI: 1.235 – 5.592), Tujia nationality (OR = 3.187, 95% CI: 1.135 – 4.568), Miao nationality (OR = 4.385, 95% CI: 1.215 – 5.697), family history of allergic disease (OR = 3.425, 95% CI: 1.207 – 5.128), smoking (OR = 3.075, 95% CI: 1.197 – 4.525), home decoration (OR = 2.509, 95% CI = 1.118: 3.455), hair dying (OR = 2.532, 95% CI: 1.127 – 3.648), raising pets (OR = 2.416, 95% CI: 1.116 – 3.076), living in a bungalow (OR = 2.218, 95% CI: 1.146 – 3.137), living in a house not separated from a live-stock shed (OR = 2.627, 95% CI: 1.105 – 3.389), using straw as home fuel (OR = 3.728, 95% CI: 1.217 – 5.923), and mental stress (OR = 2.974, 95% CI: 1.162 – 3.979).

Conclusion The prevalence rate of allergic diseases is relatively high and risk-factor-specific interventions should be promoted among rural residents in Tongren region of Guizhou province.