Abstract
Objective: To study the prevalence and factors associated with allergic rhinitis (AR) in Aseer region of southwestern Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a representative sample of adults. We used an authenticated Arabic form of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire that was appropriately modified to fit the present adult survey.
Results: The present study included 960 adults. The prevalence of AR in the previous 12 months was 30.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27.3-33.2). In the multivariate analysis, female sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.49, 95% CI: 1.05-2.12), use of wood for heating (aOR=3.62, 95% CI: 1.14-6.03), exposure to trucks passing outside the dwelling (aOR=1.69, 95% CI: 1.22-2.36), and having cats in the household (aOR=2.24, 95% CI: 1.16-4.34) were factors significantly associated with AR.
Conclusion: AR is a community health problem in Aseer, southwestern Saudi Arabia. The magnitude of AR and its associated factors should be taken into consideration by the health policy decision makers, clinicians, and medical practitioners during the management of this condition.