The epidemiology of ocular and nasal allergy in the United States, 1988-1994

doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2010.06.050

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Volume 126, Issue 4, October 2010, Pages 778-783.e6

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2010.06.050 Get rights and content

Background

Allergies give rise to the fifth-leading group of chronic diseases. However, the specific prevalence of ocular allergy is poorly described.

Objective

We sought to provide a more accurate representation of the epidemiology of ocular allergy in the United States.

Methods

The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey III performed in the United States from 1988-1994 was the source for the data collected. Items from the questionnaire regarding ocular and nasal allergy symptoms in relation to skin prick testing were stratified by age, race, region, and sex.

Results

The sample size is 20,010: 1,285 (6.4%) reported ocular symptoms, 3,294 (16.5%) reported nasal symptoms, 5,944 (29.7%) reported both ocular and nasal symptoms, and 9.487 (47.4%) were asymptomatic. Forty percent of the population reported at least 1 occurrence of ocular symptoms in the past 12 months. Those 50 years and older have a higher frequency of isolated ocular symptoms (P < .001). There is an increase in the frequency of symptoms in those younger than 50 years in the populations of subjects with ocular and nasal symptoms combined and isolated nasal symptoms (P < .001). Ocular symptoms are more frequent than nasal symptoms in relation to animals (P < .001), household dust (P < .001), and pollen (P < .001).

Conclusion

This analysis provides the first representation of the epidemiology of ocular allergy in the United States. Up to 40% of the population, the highest reported to date, have experienced ocular symptoms at least once in their lifetime, with a peak of symptoms in the months of June and July.

Section snippets

NHANES III

The NHANESs are standardized surveys providing a snapshot of the health and nutrition of the US population. NHANES III is the third population-based survey that was conducted over a 20-year period by the National Center for Health Statistics to determine the health and nutritional status of the US population from 1988 through 1994. The survey was conducted throughout 81 counties in the United States. Over the 6-year period, 39,695 persons were selected, and of those, 33,994 (89%) were

Results

The NHANES study surveyed a total of 33,944 subjects. Of these, 20,010 (59%) answered the relevant questions used to determine the subset populations: 1,285 (6.4%) reported ocular symptoms alone, 3,294 (16.5%) reported nasal symptoms alone, 5,944 (29.7%) reported both ocular and nasal symptoms, and 9,487 (47.4%) were asymptomatic (no ocular and no nasal symptoms, see Fig E1).

At the time of the conducted study, 40% of the population reported at least 1 occurrence of ocular symptoms, and 54%

Discussion

The analysis of NHANES III demonstrates that there are 3 distinct populations with regard to ocular and nasal allergy symptoms and that each of these populations demonstrates differences in epidemiology and skin reactivity profiles. At the time of NHANES III, 6% of the US population, approximately 18.5 million (according to current US population clock) persons, reported isolated ocular symptoms throughout the year, and up to 40% reported symptoms at least once during the 6-year period of the

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: Supported in part by the EPA STAR Grant R834547: Observational, Laboratory, and Modeling Studies of the Impacts of Climate Change on Allergic Airway Disease.

: Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: The authors have declared that they have no conflict of interest.

View full text

Rhinitis, sinusitis, and upper airway diseaseThe epidemiology of ocular and nasal allergy in the United States, 1988-1994

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Section snippets

NHANES III

Results

Discussion

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Ragweed sensitization in Europe—GA(2)LEN study suggests increasing prevalence

Allergy

The economic and quality of life impact of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis in a Spanish setting

Ophthalmic Epidemiol

Economic and quality-of-life impact of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis in Oxfordshire

Ophthalmic Epidemiol

Allergies in America: a landmark survey of nasal allergy sufferers: pediatric

Marlborough (MA): Sepracor, Inc

A survey of the burden of allergic rhinitis in Europe

Allergy

A survey of the burden of allergic rhinitis in the USA

Allergy

National epidemiological survey of chronic (perennial) allergic conjunctivitis and/or keratoconjunctivitis seen in ophthalmology

Allerg Immunol (Paris)

Rhinitis, sinusitis, and upper airway disease
The epidemiology of ocular and nasal allergy in the United States, 1988-1994