Table 1.
A summary of case classifications and their corresponding criteria.
| Case classification | Criteria | N (case/control) | Prevalence (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-reported ever rhinitis | Indicated having had a problem with sneezing, or runny, or blocked nose when in the absence of a cold or flu. | 7290/12,562 | 58.0 |
| Self-reported current rhinitis | Indicated having had a problem with sneezing, or runny, or blocked nose when in the absence of a cold or flu in the past 12 months. | 6601/12,474 | 52.9 |
| Current rhinitis per ARIA 2008 guidelines (henceforth current rhinitis per ARIA) | Fulfilled criteria for Self-reported current rhinitis case classification, and indicated the presence of two or more of the following symptoms: runny nose, nose blockage, nasal itching, and sneezing (henceforth ARIA symptoms). | 5281/10,797 | 48.9 |
| Self-reported ever AR | Indicated ever having had allergic rhinitis | 1064/10,571 | 10.1 |
| Allergic rhinitis (henceforth current AR) | Fulfilled criteria for Current rhinitis per ARIA case classification, and developed a positive Skin Prick Test result to either of Blomia tropicalis or Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus | 3797/9648 (vs any that did not fulfil current AR criteria) | 39.4 |
| 3797/6133 (vs non-allergic, non-rhinitis controls)a | 61.9 | ||
| Recognized AR | Fulfilled criteria for current AR case classification, and indicated ever having had allergic rhinitis | 692/3797 | 18.2 |
| Intermittent AR | Fulfilled criteria for current AR case classification, and all ARIA symptoms indicated lasted for less than 4 days per week and/or less than 4 consecutive weeks in the past 12 months. | 856/3308 (Persistent AR vs persistent + intermittent AR) | 25.9 |
| Persistent AR | Fulfilled criteria for current AR case classification, and at least one ARIA symptom persisted for both at least 4 days per week and at least 4 consecutive weeks in the past 12 months | ||
| Moderate-severe AR | Fulfilled criteria for current AR case classification, and indicated suffering from at least one of the following disturbances: sleep disturbance, impairment of daily activities, leisure and/or sport, impairment of school or work, troublesome symptoms. | 2583/3797 (moderate-severe AR vs mild + moderate-severe AR) | 68.0 |
a
Non-allergic and non-rhinitis (NANR) controls showed no evidence of sensitization to either of Blomia tropicalis or Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and did not fulfill the case criteria for current rhinitis per ARIA