Allergic rhinitis is an IgE-mediated inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa induced by allergen exposure. It presents with recurrent sneezing, nasal discharge, blockage, itching, and often ocular symptoms. Although not life-threatening, AR causes substantial morbidity and economic burden due to absenteeism, reduced productivity, sleep disturbance, and impaired daily functioning. Globally, allergic rhinitis affects 10–30% of the population and prevalence is increasing, particularly in urban settings. Air pollution, vehicular emissions, overcrowding, indoor dust mites, mold exposure, tobacco smoke, and changing environmental patterns are considered major contributors. AR frequently coexists with asthma, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis. Despite its high burden, allergic rhinitis is underdiagnosed and undertreated in many developing countries. Local epidemiological data are essential for healthcare planning. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of allergic rhinitis among urban adults and evaluate its impact on quality of life.

Study Design Cross-sectional observational study. Study Setting Departments of ENT and General Medicine, tertiary care teaching hospital. Study Duration January 2016 to December 2016. Sample Size 420 urban adults. Inclusion Criteria • Age 18–60 years • Urban resident for ≥5 years • Willing to participate Exclusion Criteria • Acute upper respiratory infection • Nasal polyposis • Deviated nasal septum causing obstruction • Chronic sinusitis requiring surgery • Pregnancy • Unwilling participants Diagnostic Criteria for Allergic Rhinitis Based on ARIA recommendations: • Two or more symptoms: sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, itching • Symptoms occurring for >1 hour on most days Data Collected • Age, sex • Occupation • Duration of symptoms • Trigger factors • Family history of atopy • Smoking/passive smoking exposure • Pets at home • Damp housing • Asthma/eczema history Quality of Life Assessment Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ), domains: • Sleep • Nasal symptoms • Eye symptoms • Activities • Emotional status Statistical Analysis SPSS version 20 used. p<0.05 considered significant.

Table 1: Demographic Profile (n=420) Variable Number (%) Age 18–30 years 158 (37.6%) Age 31–45 years 172 (41.0%) Age 46–60 years 90 (21.4%) Male 238 (56.7%) Female 182 (43.3%) Table 2: Prevalence of Allergic Rhinitis Diagnosis Number (%) Allergic rhinitis present 126 (30.0%) No allergic rhinitis 294 (70.0%) Table 3: Clinical Symptoms Among AR Patients (n=126) Symptom Number (%) Sneezing 104 (82.5%) Nasal obstruction 96 (76.2%) Rhinorrhea 90 (71.4%) Nasal itching 80 (63.5%) Watery eyes 54 (42.9%) Headache 39 (31.0%) Sleep disturbance 68 (54.0%) Table 4: Trigger Factors Trigger Number (%) Dust exposure 77 (61.1%) Weather change 61 (48.4%) Smoke exposure 45 (35.7%) Strong odors/perfume 34 (27.0%) Pets 23 (18.3%) Pollen exposure 19 (15.1%) Table 5: Quality of Life Impact (RQLQ) Severity Number (%) Mild impairment 24 (19.0%) Moderate impairment 55 (43.7%) Severe impairment 17 (13.4%) Minimal/no impairment 30 (23.9%) Moderate-to-severe impairment = 72 (57.1%) Table 6: Associated Risk Factors Risk Factor AR Present (%) p-value Family history of allergy 44.8% 0.001 Passive smoking exposure 38.6% 0.01 Indoor dampness 41.2% 0.02 Asthma history 47.5% 0.001 Pet exposure 35.3% 0.08

This study found allergic rhinitis prevalence of 30% among urban adults, which is consistent with rising global trends in urban populations. Urban environmental factors such as dust, pollution, smoke exposure, and indoor allergens likely contributed to this burden. Sneezing and nasal obstruction were the commonest symptoms, while more than half of affected individuals reported sleep disturbance and reduced quality of life. Similar studies have shown that AR negatively affects productivity, cognitive performance, and emotional health. Dust exposure was the leading trigger, emphasizing the role of indoor allergens such as house dust mites. Family history and asthma showed strong association, supporting the atopic basis of disease. The findings highlight that allergic rhinitis should not be considered a minor illness, as it significantly impairs quality of life and may worsen coexisting asthma.

Allergic rhinitis is highly prevalent among urban adults and causes substantial quality of life impairment. Family history, smoke exposure, indoor dampness, and asthma are important associated factors. Timely diagnosis and effective management are essential. Recommendations • Increase awareness regarding allergic rhinitis symptoms • Reduce indoor dust and dampness • Avoid tobacco smoke exposure • Early treatment with antihistamines/intranasal steroids • Screen AR patients for asthma Limitations • Hospital-based sample may overestimate prevalence • Skin prick testing not performed in all patients • Cross-sectional design limits causal inference Ethical Considerations Institutional Ethics Committee approval obtained. Informed consent taken from all participants.

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