Trends of air-borne pollen sensitization pattern in Beijing area

The prevalence of pollinosis is increasing year by year. Due to the large geographical area of China, there are significant differences in pollen sensitization patterns in different regions. In recent years, affected by air-borne pollens in northern China, pollinosis has become a significant public health problem in the Beijing area. At present, there are few large-scale studies on pollen sensitization characteristics. This study aims to investigate the sensitization pattern and change trend of air-borne pollen in the Beijing area, so as to provide a reference for precise prevention and control for pollen allergic diseases. A skin prick test (SPT) was performed on 16 pollen allergens in patients with self-reported allergic rhinitis. A total of 14432 patients were included in the study, and the total positive rate of pollen allergens was 60.2%. The most common sensitized pollen was Chenopodium album (35.6%), followed by Juniperus chinensis (34.7%), Artemisia sieversiana (33.3%), and Humulus scandens (30.2%); Patients with multiple sensitizations to three or more pollens accounted for 42.6%; There was significant correlation between the sensitization of different tree pollens and weed pollens (P​Juniperus chinensis. In terms of the severity of sensitization, the highest rates of severe sensitization in pollens were Juniperus chinensis (27.9%), Artemisia sieversiana (26.7%), and Humulus scandens (17.5%). Pollen sensitization had significant gender and age differences, the pollen sensitization rate of males was significantly higher than that of females (P​10–19 years old and 30–39 years old, with 77.7% and 67.2% of sensitized rate to pollen allergens. From 2017 to 2019, the pollen sensitization rate fluctuated with time, and the pollen sensitization rate of Juniperus chinensis, Artemisia sieversiana, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, and Betula increased year by year; while the sensitization rate of Ginkgo biloba, Zea mays and Populus showed a decreasing trend. The pollen sensitization rates of Juniperus chinensis, and Artemisia sieversiana increased by 5.0% and 2.4%, respectively. As of 2019, the pollen sensitization rate of Juniperus chinensis had jumped to the first place. This study provides the population characteristics of air-borne pollen sensitization in the Beijing area represented by the data of our center. The main allergenic pollens were Chenopodium album, Juniperus chinensis, Artemisia sieversiana, and Humulus scandens, and the multiple sensitization to pollens was the dominant pattern. Over time, the pollen sensitization rate of Juniperus chinensis and Artemisia sieversiana increased year by year in the Beijing area, which should be paid attention to by clinicians and relevant departments.