The Influence of Environmental Pollution on the Incidence of Allergic Rhinitis in Urban Populations: A Case-Control Study
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Background: Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory upper-airway disorder that may be aggravated by traffic emissions, particulate pollution, construction dust, and household environmental exposures. Objective: To examine the association between categorized environmental pollution exposure and allergic rhinitis among adults in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: This case-control study included 240 adults comprising 120 clinically diagnosed allergic rhinitis cases and 120 controls. Demographic, residential, household, hereditary, and environmental exposure data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Group differences were assessed using appropriate comparative tests, and binary logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: High pollution exposure was reported by 68.3% of cases and 36.7% of controls. High pollution exposure was independently associated with allergic rhinitis (adjusted OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 1.83–5.53), as were residence near a major road (adjusted OR: 2.12; 95% CI: 1.24–3.63), industrial or construction exposure (adjusted OR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.07–3.34), indoor dust exposure (adjusted OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.02–2.97), and family history of allergy (adjusted OR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.10–3.75). Passive smoking was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Categorized environmental pollution and related residential exposures were associated with higher odds of allergic rhinitis among adults in Lahore. Prospective studies using objective pollutant measurements are required
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