Association between frailty and the risk of allergic rhinitis: Evidence from a nationwide cross-sectional study

ObjectiveAllergic rhinitis (AR) is a common inflammatory condition that affects quality of life. Frailty, a syndrome of reduced physiological reserves, has been linked to various chronic diseases, but its association with AR remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationship between frailty and AR in a large-scale, population-based cohort.MethodsIn this retrospective cross-sectional study, 24,269 participants from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were categorized into AR and non-AR groups based on self-reported history. Frailty was assessed using the modified frailty phenotype (FP) and frailty index (FI). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association, with subgroup analyses performed by demographic and clinical factors.ResultsFrailty measured by FP (OR = 1.251, 95% CI [1.060, 1.476]) and FI (OR: 1.587, 95% CI [1.116, 2.257]) was associated with an increased risk of AR, particularly pronounced in males (OR = 1.516, 95% CI [1.134, 2.027]), younger (OR = 1.298, 95% CI [1.022, 1.648]) and middle-aged adults (OR = 1.372, 95% CI [1.024, 1.838]), individuals with a high school education (OR = 1.482, 95% CI [1.135, 1.934]), those with a body mass index ≥ 25 (OR = 1.823, 95% CI [1.388, 2.395]), and white-collar workers (OR = 1.361, 95% CI [1.051, 1.761]), and those with higher family income (OR = 1.433, 95% CI [1.072, 1.914]), a history of smoking (OR = 1.265, 95% CI [1.040, 1.535]), and frequent alcohol consumption (OR = 1.578, 95% CI [1.091, 2.282]). Further analysis indicated that the heightened risk of AR associated with frailty may be attributed to increased levels of emotional exhaustion (OR: 1.334, 95% CI [1.178, 1.510]).ConclusionsFrailty is independently associated with a higher prevalence of AR, highlighting the need for comprehensive management strategies addressing both physical and mental health in AR patients.