Aeroallergen Sensitization Patterns Among Adults with Allergic Rhinitis at a Tertiary Center in Erzurum, Turkiye

Allergic Rhinitis has evolved beyond the conventional definition of nasal mucosal inflammation, becoming a complex ecosystem problem shaped by climate change and shifts in regional biodiversity. This study aimed to characterize aeroallergen sensitization patterns among adults with allergic rhinitis at a tertiary care center in Erzurum, Türkiye. This study was conducted as a single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study at a tertiary allergy clinic in Erzurum, Türkiye. Patients aged 18 and over who presented to the immunology and allergy outpatient clinic with rhinitis complaints between November 2023 and January 2025 were retrospectively evaluated. Clinical, demographic, and laboratory data (including skin prick test results and serum allergen-specific immunoglobulin E levels) of the patients were obtained from the hospital's electronic medical records and patient files. A total of 1,235 patients presenting with rhinitis symptoms were retrospectively evaluated. After the initial clinical assessment and application of the eligibility and exclusion criteria, 739 patients were considered eligible for further evaluation. Of these, 496 patients (67.1%) who were sensitized to at least one aeroallergen (positive skin prick test and/or serum-specific immunoglobulin E) and in whom a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis was confirmed were included in the study group. 345 (69.6%) of the patients were female, and the median age was 27 (range: 18–69). A total of 306 patients (61.7%) were identified as monosensitized, with house dust mites n=183 (36.9%) and grass pollens n=159 (32.1%) as the most common allergens. The most frequent comorbid atopic disease was asthma (68/496 13.7%), and house dust mites were the most frequent aeroallergen sensitization among patients with asthma, detected in 31 patients (45.6%). In high-altitude Erzurum, featuring a harsh continental climate, house dust mites and grass pollen are the primary aeroallergens. The high rate of monosensitization in our study is noteworthy in terms of developing region-specific environmental control strategies and treatments in the management of allergic rhinitis.