How Climate Change Is Impacting Allergic Rhinitis: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Allergology
• Public Health

Background:

• Climate change poses a significant global health threat, particularly impacting upper airway inflammatory diseases like allergic rhinitis (AR).
• Global warming trends are demonstrably linked to alterations in environmental factors influencing AR prevalence and symptomology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and characterize the global epidemiological effects of climate change on allergic rhinitis in both adult and pediatric populations.
• To synthesize current evidence on how climate change influences AR disease patterns and associated healthcare utilization.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across four databases, adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Inclusion criteria focused on English-language studies published between 2000-2023, reporting on AR epidemiology, climate change factors, and observed impacts on allergy seasons and symptoms.
• Two independent reviewers screened articles and performed full-text reviews to ensure study eligibility.

Main Results:

• Out of 502 assessed articles, 30 met the inclusion criteria.
• Sixteen studies confirmed that climate change leads to longer pollen seasons and/or higher pollen concentrations, with projections of significant increases in North America.
• Four studies reported increased AR-related healthcare usage, disproportionately affecting low-income populations, and two studies noted a desire among healthcare professionals for more climate change education.

Conclusions:

• Climate change is actively reshaping the landscape of allergic rhinitis, affecting pollen dynamics, disease prevalence, and symptom severity.
• The findings underscore a growing recognition among health professionals of climate change's health implications and a demand for enhanced educational resources.