title: Prevalence and characteristics of rhinitis in asthmatic patients attending primary care in Spain (the RINOASMAIR study).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rhinitis and asthma share epidemiological, pathophysiological, and clinical features. The aim of the RINOASMAIR study was to examine the prevalence and characteristics of rhinitis in asthmatics in a Primary Care setting in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective epidemiological study was conducted with the participation of 1,027 Primary Care Physicians (PCP). A total of 4,174 asthmatics were included and demographic data, rhinitis prevalence, lung function, atopy, and rhinitis treatment were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  71% of asthmatics suffered from rhinitis, these being younger (42.8 vs 50.2 yr; p<0.0001) and having milder asthma (FEV1=80.2% vs 76.1%, p<0.002) than those with-out rhinitis. A significant correlation (Rho=0.35, p<0.0001) between asthma and rhinitis severities was found. Atopy was associated to rhinitis, 77.8% of atopic compared to 47.6% of non atopic having rhinitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most asthmatics (71%) visited by Spanish PCP suffer from rhinitis, and these patients are younger and have milder asthma than asthmatics without rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Servei de Pneumologia, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain. 11437jac@comb.es
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mullol
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology