Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2017 Oct;60(10):504-511. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2017.00185.

Prevalence of Allergic Disease in Korean Adults: Results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2012)

• Im D
• Yang YS
• Choi HR
• Choi S
• Nahm H
• Han K
• Hong SC
• Kim JK
• Cho JH

• KMID: 2393814
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2017.00185

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
In this study, we evaluated differences in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis and specific immunoglobuline E (IgE) value for some respiratory antigens in Korean adults.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
The study was conducted using data from the 5th National Health and Nutrition Survey (2010-2012). All subjects who were aged 19 years or older completed questionnaires on asthma, atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis. The subjects were first divided into male and female, and then into age groups of 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, ≥70 each. The lifetime and current prevalence rates for allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis were calculated for each age group. The total and specific IgE level for Dermatophagoides farinae (DF), cockroach, and dog dander were also calculated.
RESULTS
Final participants of 17542 were analyzed for the prevalence rate among the total of 25534 participants. The mean IgE level was calculated from 2028 subjects from the final participants. In asthma, the lifetime prevalence and current prevalence increased with age, but decreased with atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis. Total IgE level increased with age, but IgE level of DF reached its peak at 20-29 years, and then decreased rapidly thereafter. There was no clear trend for cockroach and dog dander.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of allergic diseases in adults varies widely by age group. Asthma has a low prevalence after age 20 and gradually increases after age 50. Atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis are the most prevalent in their 20s and gradually decrease thereafter.

Keyword

Allergic rhinitis; Asthma; Atopic dermatitis; Prevalence

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Animals
Asthma
Cockroaches
Dander
Dermatitis, Atopic
Dermatophagoides farinae
Dogs
Female
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulins
Korea*
Male
Methods
Nutrition Surveys*
Prevalence*
Rhinitis, Allergic
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulins