A nationwide cross-sectional survey of major allergic diseases in China during 2010–2015 involving 120,000 participants

Although the prevalence of allergic diseases has been rising in China since the late twentieth century, comprehensive nationwide epidemiological data covering all age groups and multiple allergic conditions remain scarce. To investigate the epidemiological patterns of eight major allergic diseases in China, including their national and regional prevalence, demographic distribution, and comorbidity profiles, the National Epidemiology Study of Asthma and Allergies in China (NESAAC) was a nationwide cross-sectional survey conducted from September 2010 to December 2015. A multistage stratified cluster sampling method was employed across seven geographical regions, covering 882 communities and 587 villages in 16 cities. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using standardized questionnaires. Prevalence was calculated for three categories: lifetime symptoms, current symptoms (past 12 months), and physician-diagnosed history. Among the 121,023 participants analyzed, the current symptom prevalence of each specific disease was: allergic rhinitis (4.2%), asthma (0.9%), eczema (0.7%), drug allergy (0.6%), food allergy (0.4%), urticaria (0.4%), contact dermatitis (0.3%), and anaphylactic shock (0.02%). Geographic variations were notable, with the highest prevalence consistently observed in North, East, and South China. Urban residents had significantly higher prevalence than rural residents across all conditions except anaphylactic shock. Age distribution revealed eczema and food allergy predominance in children under 6 years, whereas asthma and drug allergy prevalence increased with age. Most conditions were more prevalent among females than males. Allergic rhinitis was not only the most common condition but also demonstrated the strongest comorbidity, particularly with asthma. This first nationwide, all-age survey underscores marked epidemiological variations in allergic diseases across China.