OBJECTIVETo obtain the prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) in different regions of northern China, to analyze the correlation and interaction between AR and bronchial asthma (BA) or atopic dermatitis (AD), and to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases such as AR.

METHODSTo obtain the indexes including age, occupation, atopic physical fitness, smoking, alcohol, lifestyle and so on. To explore the correlation between AR and BA or AD. From April 2007 to May 2010, the serum specific IgE (sIgE) was investigated in different regions (rural areas of Qingxian, Hebei; coastal fishing village of Bohai Bay, Huanghua; area of Wuling Mountain, Chengde; urban areas of Tianjin) by randomly multi-stage and cluster sampling, with total population of 1524.

RESULTSThe prevalence of AR, BA and AD were 9.1%, 5.4% and 6.0%. The prevalence of BA and AD were 30.9% and 29.5% in AR patients, but were 2.9% and 3.7% in non-AR, and the differences were of statistical significance (χ(2) values were 192.97 and 148.40, respectively, all P < 0.01). The risk of people with BA suffering from AR was as 8.619 times as those free from BA, the risk of people with AD suffering from AR was as 1.817 times as those free from AD and, the risk of workers suffering from AR was as 2.320 times as farmers in terms of working factor by analysis of Logistic regression for AR and BA, AD, age, occupation, atopic physical fitness and other factors.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of AR are correlated with BA and AD. It is greater between BA and AR than AD and AR in the strength of correlation.