Association Between Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis and Air Pollution, Meteorological Factors, and Grass Pollen Counts in Madrid (1996 and 2009).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between meteorological and pollution-related variables and the symptoms of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis due to sensitization to grass pollen during 2 different time periods in Madrid, Spain. METHODS: Between March 23 and December 31 in 1996 and 2009, we carried out a daily count of grass pollen grains (Burkard spore trap) and recorded the rhinitis symptom scores in 2 groups of patients with a history of seasonal allergic rhinitis (n=25 in 1996 and n=23 in 2009). Descriptive statistics of the same variables during the study periods were recorded. Associations between variables were assessed using the paired-samples Wilcoxon test and categorical principal component analysis (CatPCA, SPSS24 package). RESULTS: The mean symptom score was low in 1996 and moderate in 2009. The 1996 and 2009 CatPCA analysis explained around 66.4% and 70.5% of the variance, respectively. The strongest relationships in 1996 were between symptoms and grass pollen counts (R=0.55) and between temperature and ozone (R=0.63). In 2009, the association between temperature and pollution-related variables was even stronger than in 1996 (ozone [R=0.53] and PM10 [R=0.34], with a positive sign in both cases). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of temperature and pollution (mainly ozone, even at lower atmospheric concentrations than in established guidelines for effects on health) may have contributed to the higher seasonal allergic rhinitis symptom score recorded in 2009.

Association between seasonal allergic rhinitis and air pollution, meteorological factors, and grass pollen counts in Madrid (1996 and 2009)

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between meteorological and pollution-related variables and the symptoms of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis due to sensitization to grass pollen during 2 different time periods in Madrid, Spain. METHODS: Between March 23 and December 31 in 1996 and 2009, we carried out a daily count of grass pollen grains (Burkard spore trap) and recorded the rhinitis symptom scores in 2 groups of patients with a history of seasonal allergic rhinitis (n=25 in 1996 and n=23 in 2009). Descriptive statistics of the same variables during the study periods were recorded. Associations between variables were assessed using the paired-samples Wilcoxon test and categorical principal component analysis (CatPCA, SPSS24 package). RESULTS: The mean symptom score was low in 1996 and moderate in 2009. The 1996 and 2009 CatPCA analysis explained around 66.4% and 70.5% of the variance, respectively. The strongest relationships in 1996 were between symptoms and grass pollen counts (R=0.55) and between temperature and ozone (R=0.63). In 2009, the association between temperature and pollution-related variables was even stronger than in 1996 (ozone [R=0.53] and PM10 [R=0.34], with a positive sign in both cases). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of temperature and pollution (mainly ozone, even at lower atmospheric concentrations than in established guidelines for effects on health) may have contributed to the higher seasonal allergic rhinitis symptom score recorded in 2009

INTRODUCCIÓN: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las relaciones de las variables meteorológicas y contaminantes en los síntomas de los pacientes con rinitis alérgica estacional con sensibilización al polen de gramíneas durante dos períodos diferentes en Madrid. MÉTODOS: Durante el período del 23 de marzo al 31 de diciembre de 1996 y 2009, se realizó un recuento diario de granos de polen de gramíneas (Burkard spore trap) y puntuación de síntomas de rinitis en dos grupos de pacientes (n = 25 en 1996 y n = 23 en 2009) con historia de rinitis alérgica estacional. Para describir cómo se relacionan las variables, se realizaron estadísticas descriptivas de las mismas variables en los períodos de estudio de 1996 y 2009, contraste no paramétrico pareado de Wilcoxon y un análisis de componentes principales (CatPCA, SPSS24). RESULTADOS: El valor medio de la puntuación de síntomas en 1996 fue bajo y en 2009 moderado. El análisis CatPCA de 1996 y 2009 explica aproximadamente el 66,4% y el 70,5% de la varianza, respectivamente. La relación más fuerte en 1996 fue entre los síntomas y los recuentos de polen de gramíneas (R = 0,55), la temperatura y el O3 (R = 0,63). En 2009, la relación entre la temperatura y las variables de contaminación fue incluso mayor que en el período de 1996: O3 (R = 0,53) y con PM10 (R = 0,34), en ambos casos con un signo positivo. CONCLUSIONES: El efecto de la temperatura y la contaminación (principalmente O3, incluso a concentraciones atmosféricas más bajas que las pautas establecidas sobre sus efectos en la salud), podría contribuir a la mayor puntuación de síntomas de rinitis alérgica estacional observada en 2009