[Prevalence of chronic urticaria in a medical unit].

Zamitiz-Hernández, Jorge; Celio-Murillo, Rodolfo; Torres-Reyes, María Angélica; León-Aguilar, Reynaldo; Ramírez-González, Vania

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of chronic urticaria in patients diagnosed with an allergic pathology; to know the most affected sex and age group. METHODS A descriptive, observational, and retrospective cross-sectional study. Clinical records of patients diagnosed with chronic urticaria in Unidad de Medicina Integral (Integrated Care Unit) of Tehuacan, Puebla were reviewed. They were selected by age, sex, and diagnosed allergic pathology. RESULTS In the period of January 1st, 2015, to December 31st, 2020, 373 patients were diagnosed with chronic urticaria, with a prevalence of 10.5%. The average age of the population was 26.05 years. Women were the most prevalent, with 59.5% of the total studied population. CONCLUSIONS The results reflect a prevalence of 10.5%, with a higher frequency in women at a ratio of 1.4: 1 with regard to males. The prevalence of chronic urticaria has increased significantly in recent years and especially in young patients (infants, preschoolers, and school-age children).