INCREASE OF ASTHMA AND ALLERGIC RHINITIS PREVALENCE IN YOUNG ITALIAN MEN

Our previous studies have reported that the prevalence of asthma was 2 .89% and of allergic rhinitis 1.54% in Ligurian conscripts for the arm y during 1983. Since several authors reported an increasing prevalence of these diseases in different geographic areas, the aim of the prese nt study was to evaluate the trend of prevalence rates in a same homog eneous group of Ligurian conscripts. The prevalence of asthma and alle rgic rhinitis was assessed in a group of 4310 young Ligurian men (18 y ears old) who had undergone medical examination for call-up to the nav y during 1993, 1994 and 1995. Subjects were investigated by history, c linic visit, spirometry, metacholine bronchial challenge and skin pric k test. The prevalence of asthma is 4.39% and of allergic rhinitis 2.2 %. Comparing these results with previous data, a significant increase appears in this area 12 years later (respectively, p<0.001 and p<0.006 ). In addition, the association with asthma in allergic rhinitics incr eases from 41 to 77%, as well as an increasing trend appears for peren nial allergens (i.e. mites and cat) and the polysensitizations increas e from 48 to 67%. Possible explanations for these phenomena might be d ue to environmental factors (i.e. pollutants, viral infections, change s in domestic microenvironment).