[Prevalence and characteristics of rhinitis in adult asthmatic patients attending allergist, primary care and pulmonologist settings in Spain (AIR study)].
OBJECTIVE
Rhinitis and asthma are linked by common epidemiological, clinical and inflammatory features. The objective of the AIR study was to understand the prevalence and characteristics of rhinitis in adult asthmatic patients who were seen in either primary or secondary care (Allergy or Pulmonology) in Spain.


METHODS
This was a prospective epidemiological study with the participation of 1,369 randomly selected physicians. Five thousand six hundred sixteen asthmatic patients older than 18 years of age were selected and the study was carried out between February-September 2006. Demographic data, rhinitis prevalence, pulmonary function, allergy tests and treatments were analyzed.


RESULTS
Some 75% (N=4,212) of the asthmatic patients presented with additional rhinitis and these were characterised as being both younger (41.3 vs 50.4 years; p<0.0001) and with less severe asthma (FEV(1)=86.6 vs 79.3%, p<0.0001) than asthmatic patients without rhinitis. A positive correlation was found between asthma and rhinitis severity (p<0.0001) whilst atopy was significantly associated with the presence of rhinitis (81 vs 48%; OR: 4.80; CI 95%: 4.2-5.5). The presence of co-morbid rhinitis was associated with a higher number of asthma exacerbations (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Some 75% of our asthmatic patients had associated rhinitis and this association was more frequent in atopic subjects. There is a positive correlation between the severity of rhinitis and asthma and between the number of asthma exacerbations and the presence of rhinitis. These results support the main message of ARIA and GEMA recommendations regarding the integral management of airways to improve the control of asthma.
Servei de Pneumologia, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, España. 11437jac@comb.es
José Antonio
JA
Castillo
Ana
A
Navarro
Santiago
S
Quirce
Jesús
J
Molina
Luis
L
García-Marcos
Berta
B
Juliá
Antonio
A
Valero
Joaquim
J
Mullol
D000328:Adult; D000486:Allergy and Immunology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014581:Urticaria / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents