Childhood intermittent and persistent rhinitis prevalence and climate and vegetation: a global ecologic analysis

Abstract Background The effect of climate change and its effects on vegetation growth, and consequently on rhinitis, are uncertain. Objective To examine between- and within-country associations of climate measures and the normalized difference vegetation index with intermittent and persistent rhinitis symptoms in a global context. Methods Questionnaire data from 6- to 7-year-olds and 13- to 14-year-olds were collected in phase 3 of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Associations of intermittent (>1 symptom report but not for 2 consecutive months) and persistent (symptoms for ≥2 consecutive months) rhinitis symptom prevalences with temperature, precipitation, vapor…