COMPARISON OF ALLERGEN SENSITIZATION ACCORDING TO AGE AND SEX USING SKIN PRICK TEST IN PATIENTS WITH ALLERGIC RHINITIS

The aim of the present study was to investigate inhalant allergen sensitivity in adult patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and to compare allergen sensitization based on age and sex under ecological conditions of urban areas. In this cross-sectional study, 2391 patients diagnosed with rhinitis symptoms in the Istanbul area were evaluated. Skin prick test (SPT) with standard extracts, including house dust mite, pollen, fungal allergen, and animal dander, was performed. Patients with sensitization were divided into four different age groups with 10-year intervals for evaluation. Of the 2391 patients with rhinitis, 1586 (66.3%) had at least one allergen sensitization on SPT, whereas 805 (33.7%) had no allergen sensitization. The most common sensitization (57.1%) was observed for pollen allergens. Multiple allergen sensitizations were lowest (38.8%) in the animal dander-sensitive group. The percentage of allergen sensitization was highest in age group 2 and lowest in age group 4 for both the sexes. The data obtained from this study are important for monitoring allergen sensitivity in patients with rhinitis under ecological conditions of a large city. Allergen sensitization decreased with increasing age in all the study groups, and the percentage of sensitization changed according to age and sex. Monitoring allergen sensitization according to age and sex is important for environmental regulation, design of living spaces, working conditions, and preventive health services.