Impact of airborne pollen concentration and meteorological factors on the number of outpatients with allergic rhinitis

The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) caused by pollen allergen is high in northern China. This study analyzed the allergen detection results of patients with AR in Beijing Tongren Hospital from 2016 to 2019, and evaluated the association between AR and seasonal airborne pollen concentration and meteorological factors in Beijing, China. We found that AR patients caused by pollen accounted for 61.18% (16 793/27 449) in AR patients. Among them, Artemisia pollen sensitive patients accounted for 48.54% (13 325/27 449) of AR. We also found that the number of outpatients diagnosed with AR is strongly correlated with seasonal airborne pollen concentration and is influenced by meteorological factors, such as temperature and humidity. These results may help clinicians and healthcare workers to be prepared for this influx of outpatients in the relevant seasons.