Allergic rhinitis and the associated risk of nocturnal enuresis in children: a population-based cohort study

Despite controversy, an association between allergy and nocturnal enuresis (NE) has been reported for almost a century. Allergic rhinitis (AR)-associated sleep-disordered breathing frequently results in microarousals during sleep, decreased sleep efficiency, and change in sleep pattern and behavior. NE is a common sleep disorder in children. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk of NE in children with AR.

A population-based cohort study was conducted among 327,928 children with AR and 327,601 non-AR controls between 2000 and 2012 in Taiwan. By the end of 2012, the incidence of NE in both cohorts, and the AR-to-non-AR cohort hazard ratios (HRs) were measured.

The adjusted HR of NE during the study period was 1.7-fold higher in the AR cohort compared to the non-AR cohort. The risk was greater for boys, children younger than 6 years old, those with comorbidities of asthma, atopic dermatitis, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and those who had more than 5 AR-related medical visits per year. The risk of NE in the AR cohort decreased with follow-up time and was the highest within the first year after AR diagnosis.

Children with AR had a higher incidence and subsequent risk of NE. The risk of NE was greater for boys, younger children, and those with more frequent health utilization for AR symptoms.