title: The relationship between asthma and allergic rhinitis in the Iraqi population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, extensive research has established that epidemiologic and therapeutic links exist between allergic rhinitis and asthma. The objective of this study was to clarify this association in Iraq.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data included in this study were collected from five surveys for asthma and allergic rhinitis that were performed during the period from September 2000 to July 2008. These surveys were parts of Tikrit University College of Medicine PHC program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of allergic rhinitis (AR) was 61.6% among individuals with asthma versus 6% among non-asthmatic (control) subjects (Odd Ratio [OR] = 25.5; P < 0.0001). All studies indicated a significant frequency of AR among asthmatic patients in comparison with non-asthmatic subjects, whether the patients were adults or children (OR for adults = 14.9 and 22.5, for children 34.7 and 48.4; P < 0.001 for all). Furthermore, the high frequency of AR in asthmatic patients was seen whether the study was a community based study (CBS)(OR = 14.9 and 48.4; P < 0.0001) or a hospital based study (HBS)(OR = 22.5 & 34.7; P < 0.0001). The frequency of current asthma was 51.8% among individuals with AR versus 5.4% among control subjects (OR = 23.1; P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provided evidence that AR and asthma are strongly associated with each other and the treatment approach should consider the entire airway rather than only a part.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Tikrit University, Salahuldean, Iraq.
authors.forename: Abdulghani Mohamad
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alsamarai
authors.forename: Ammar M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alwan
authors.forename: Amina Hamed
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Mohib Ahmad
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Salih
authors.forename: Jawad Ali
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Salih
authors.forename: Mohamad Abdulsatar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Aldabagh
authors.forename: Safa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alturaihi
authors.forename: Zainab Hashim
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Abdulaziz
authors.forename: Anas Ahmad
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Salih
authors.forename: Sana Khalaf
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Salih
authors.forename: Mossa Mahmood
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Murbat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D015508:Nasal Obstruction; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012912:Sneezing
chemical_list: D008315:Malondialdehyde; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein