How Climate Change Is Impacting Allergic Rhinitis: A Scoping Review

The impact of climate change on health has become an increasingly widespread global health concern. This impact is especially relevant in the field of Otolaryngology; global warming has been shown to affect inflammatory upper airway disease, specifically allergic rhinitis (AR). This study aims to characterize the effect of climate change on the epidemiology of AR in adult and pediatric populations globally.

In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a literature search was performed across four databases. Inclusion criteria were: (1) published in English, (2) published between 2000 and 2023, (3) reported on the current epidemiological state of AR, (4) described factors related to climate change, and (5) observed global warming affecting allergy season and AR symptoms.

Two reviewers screened articles and performed full-text reviews.

Of the 502 articles assessed, 30 studies were eligible for inclusion. Sixteen studies reported longer pollen seasons and/or higher pollen concentrations related to climate change, with two projecting total pollen emissions to increase by 16-40% and pollen season length to increase by 19 days in North America. Four studies reported an increase in AR-related healthcare usage; low-income residents were most impacted by increased usage. Two studies identified that healthcare professionals want more education on climate change.

Our scoping review highlights how climate change is altering pollen seasons and concentrations, AR disease prevalence, allergy sensitization, and AR symptom severity. Health professionals have expressed an understanding of climate change's impact on health and a desire for further education.

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