Epidemiology of Asthma and Allergic Conditions
Summary
Asthma and related allergic conditions constitute a major and evolving public-health challenge worldwide. Prevalence estimates vary by region, with some high-income countries showing signs of stabilisation while many low- and middle-income settings continue to report rising rates. The epidemiology of these disorders is shaped by a complex interplay of genetic predispositions, environmental exposures and socio-economic determinants. Urbanisation, air pollution, climate variability and lifestyle factors contribute to spatial and temporal heterogeneity in disease burden. Atopic (allergic) and non-atopic phenotypes display distinct age-specific incidence profiles, with allergic asthma predominating in childhood and non-atopic forms becoming more frequent in later life. Surveillance efforts reveal shifts in diagnostic practices and treatment access, underscoring the importance of consistent case definitions and long-term cohort studies. Global trends highlight the need for targeted prevention and management strategies, especially in resource-constrained settings where the burden of uncontrolled asthma and allergic morbidity remains high.
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Epidemiology of Asthma and Allergic Conditions publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in epidemiology of asthma and allergic conditions across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Atopy: Genetic tendency to produce immunoglobulin E antibodies in response to common environmental allergens.
Prevalence: Proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific condition at a given time.
Incidence: Rate of newly diagnosed cases of a condition in a defined population over a specified period.
Allergic rhinitis: Inflammation of the nasal mucosa induced by allergen exposure, often co-existing with asthma.
Urbanisation: Process by which populations move from rural to urban areas, altering environmental exposures and lifestyle patterns.
Determinants of health: Range of social, economic, environmental and individual factors that influence population health outcomes.
References
- Is asthma in children still increasing? 20‐year prevalence trends in northern Sweden. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (2024).
- Spatial Patterns in the Association between the Prevalence of Asthma and Determinants of Health. Geographical Analysis (2023).
- Geographical Differences of Risk of Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis according to Urban/Rural Area: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Cohort Studies. Journal of Urban Health (2023).
- Age-specific incidence of allergic and non-allergic asthma. BMC Pulmonary Medicine (2020).
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