Trends in common rhinologic illnesses: Analysis of U.S. healthcare surveys 1995–2007

Abstract

While regression did not show statistically significant changes for AS, the odds ratio along with the number and proportion of visits suggests that an increase for AS at a similar rate of AR is possible, lending support to a relationship between these disease processes. The relatively small increase in the prevalence of AR in the United States when compared with the worldwide increase in developing countries suggests that the hygiene theory and environmental factors play a leading role in the development of AR. The relative decrease in the prevalence of CS may be the result of successful medical therapy with the increased use of nasal steroids and nasal saline irrigation.