This study aims to investigate the association between the diurnal temperature range (DTR) and allergic rhinitis (AR) outpatient visits in Lanzhou, China, utilizing more than 7 years of participant surveys.

Our study used the distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) aimed to evaluate the association between DTR and AR outpatient visits. We also performed subgroup analyses in order to find susceptible populations by gender and age groups.

In 2013–2019, DTR in Lanzhou demonstrates a non-linear correlation with outpatient visits for AR, which is S-shaped. In addition, when DTR was located in the 0.9–5.3 °C and 12–20 °C compared with 12 °C, the risk of outpatient visits for AR increased. Moreover, males appeared to be more vulnerable to the DTR effect than females, the risk of children visits exceeded both the adult and the elderly groups at the higher DTR.

Our study adds to the evidence that DTR is a possible risk factor for outpatient visits for AR; therefore, the public health sector and medical staff should take DTR into account when it comes to preventing AR onset.