[The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in the adult urban population of Denizli].

Objectives: We investigated the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in the adult urban population of Denizli.

Study Design: A survey study was conducted to cover 1010 adults above 19 years of age, representing the urban population of Denizli district, Turkey. A questionnaire was designed to collect data on sociodemographic features, symptoms of allergic rhinitis, duration of symptoms, and any prior diagnosis of allergic rhinitis made by a physician. Interviews were made with randomly chosen adults from three socioeconomically different urban areas.

Results: Interviews were completed for 951 adults with ages ranging from 19 to 65 years (414 males, mean age 36.3+/-12 years; 537 females, mean age 35.2+/-12 years). The frequency of self-reported allergic rhinitis was 10.8%, and 5.2% had allergic rhinitis diagnosed by a physician. Two or more symptoms of allergic rhinitis were found in 7.2%. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was higher in females. There was no relationship between the frequency of allergic rhinitis and age.

Conclusion: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in the adult urban population of Denizli is between 5% to 10%, with a higher frequency in females.