title: Usefulness of the subjective cold hyperresponsiveness scale as evaluated by cold dry air provocation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is still no study about the correlation between the symptom score and the reactivity to cold dry air (CDA). The authors developed a subjective cold hyperresponsiveness (SCH) scale for CDA and we evaluated its usefulness by comparing the changes of the symptom  score and the acoustic parameters between different SCH groups and analyzing the correlation between the SCH scale and other parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty-two patients were classified according to their SCH scale. The symptom score by the visual analog scale (VAS),  the total nasal volume (TNV), and the minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) by acoustic rhinometry were obtained before and after CDA provocation. Changes of these values were compared between groups and an analysis was performed for the correlation between SCH scale and change of the VAS, TNV,  or MCA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients with SCH grade 2 or 3 had a greater change of the VAS scores for nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea. The patients with SCH grade 2 or 3 had a greater change of the TNV (grade 0, 26.1 ± 17.2%; grade 1, 33.3 ± 26.5%, versus grade  2, 44.2 ± 30.0%; grade 3, 61.6 ± 40.0%; p < 0.05) and MCA (grade 0, 23.0 ± 25.3%; grade 1, 35.7 ± 51.1%, versus grade 2, 61.2 ± 72.4%; grade 3, 80.5 ± 56.4%; p < 0.05). Significant correlation existed between the SCH scale and changes in the  TNV or MCA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We developed the SCH scale and proved its usefulness for evaluating nonspecific hyperreactivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Hyo
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae Young
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult