title: [The frequency of hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the population of adult asthmatics in Poland based on an epidemiological questionnaire].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypersensitivity reactions to drugs account for 25% of all side effects related to drugs, affecting more than 7% of the population. One in four such reactions is caused by acetylic acid and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1998 and 2000 epidemiological research was carried out in various centers, with the aim of estimating the frequency of allergy-based diseases in Poland. The objective of the study was to evaluate the frequency of hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), based on an epidemiological questionnaire, in the Polish adult population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bronchial asthma was diagnosed in 582 patients (5.4%). Of that group, 75 patients (12.9%) additionally reported symptoms of hypersensitivity to NSAIDs. Aspirin-induced asthma was diagnosed in 11 patients (14.7%) with clinical manifestations of hypersensitivity responses. Frequency of aspirin-induced asthma with clinical symptoms amounted to 1.9% of asthmatics. In the assessment of severity of the disease, aspirin intolerance was the only statistically significant factor (p = 0.0003; odds ratio 28.6 with assumed 95% confidence interval).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the population of adults in Poland, the frequency of aspirin-induced asthma amounted to 0.1%. Hypersensitivity to NSAIDs was observed in 12.9% of asthmatics. In asthmatics with symptoms of hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which takes the course of clinically demonstrable aspirin-induced asthma, the risk of severe asthma is 30-fold higher.
authors.affiliation: II Katedra Chorób Wewnetrznych Collegium Medicum Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego w Krakowie. kasper@mp.pl
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Kasper
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sładek
authors.forename: Grazyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bochenek
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duplaga
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szczeklik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055963:Asthma, Aspirin-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001241:Aspirin