title: The impact of concomitant allergic rhinitis on asthma control: a cross-sectional nationwide survey in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Understanding the interactions between allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma is important for asthma management. This study explored the clinical features of AR as a comorbidity in Chinese asthmatic patients and its impact on asthma control.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 20 051 patients with asthma in an out-patient setting and covered all of the territories of China. The patients were interviewed face-to-face. A standardized questionnaire was completed by each patient. AR was defined according to the ARIA criteria. The level of asthma control was assessed by the Asthma Control Test. A score ≤19 indicated poorly controlled asthma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AR was present in 69.9% of patients with asthma. Of them, 72.4% had intermittent symptoms, and 93.1% presented with moderate/severe symptoms. Cold air, irritant air and household mites were the most common triggers for AR. A higher percentage of patients with AR experienced poorly controlled asthma compared with those without AR (56.2% versus 51.5%, p < 0.001). AR was associated with an increased risk of poorly controlled asthma [odds ratio (OR): 1.21, p < 0.001]. Moderate/severe or persistent symptoms were associated with a higher risk of poorly controlled asthma than those with mild or intermittent symptoms (OR: 2.34 and 1.78, respectively, p < 0.001). In contrast, diagnosed AR (OR: 0.84, p < 0.001), being currently treated with medication (OR: 0.91, p = 0.004) and a prior skin prick test (OR: 0.90, p = 0.003) showed a significantly negative association with poorly controlled asthma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms that concomitant AR and asthma are highly prevalent in China and that AR is associated with poor asthma control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Peking University , Beijing , China .
authors.forename: Jiangtao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Guoliang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Kaisheng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Huahao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Rongchang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chuntao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Changgui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yanping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires