MEDICAL AND SOCIAL APPROACHES TO ENSURE EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND PREVENTION OF ALLERGIC RHINITIS AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a screening programme for detecting allergic rhinitis (AR) and its risk factors (RFs) based on a 5-year epidemiological analysis among children ages 0 to 17 years in the Odintsovo urban district in Moscow Oblast, Russia. Methods: A retrospective study of polyclinic facilities' performance indicators and an analysis of outpatient records of patients diagnosed with AR between 2017 and 2021 were carried out. The rates of incidence, prevalence, risks and odds ratios for AR were assessed. Results: A database of identified 28 RFs for AR was registered at the Federal Service for Intellectual Property of the Russian Federation (Rospatent) (Certificate of Registration # 2022620939 dated April 13, 2022). All RFs for AR, in terms of modifiability, were divided into three groups: non-modifiable, partially modifiable and modifiable. When assessing the relative risks and risk probability, it was found that the impact of RFs is uneven in different age groups. Therefore, age groups with the highest risk probability for AR were determined. In addition, a screening program has been developed. Conclusion: Epidemiological research and knowledge of modifiable age-related AR RFs will allow the early detection of AR in children's different age groups through cascade screening programmes.

Keywords

• allergic rhinitis
• risk factors
• screening cascade
• allergy
• early diagnosis.