title: A hospital-based survey on the prevalence of bronchial asthma in patients with allergic rhinitis in southern China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of bronchial asthma (BA) and the underlying risk factors in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) in China are largely unknown. Thus, this study is designed to assess the BA comorbidity in AR patients in two cities (Guangzhou and Zhuhai) of southern China and to determine the risk factors of BA in these AR patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional, hospital-based survey in two modernized cities in southern China. The BA prevalence was evaluated in 1931 AR patients. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire containing specific items for AR and BA. A logistic regression analysis was used to assess the risk factors of BA comorbidity in AR patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of concomitant BA in AR patients is 5.33% (103/1931). Most of the participants (98.4%) were sensitized to more than one allergen, and the most common sensitization was to house-dust mites. The strongest risk factor of BA determined by a multiple logistic regression analysis was a duration of AR of >5 years (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 8.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.74-20.06), followed by smoking (adjusted OR, 7.21; 95% CI, 1.86-8.23) and self-medication with antibiotics (adjusted OR, 6.35; 95% CI, 3.43-11.78).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggested the risk factors of concomitant BA in AR patients may be helpful to establish preventive strategies.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Cancer Center, Otorhinolaryngology Section, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, and Otorhinolaryngology Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Haiyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Qintai
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Kejun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Xinye
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wentong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Minhui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Xiaomin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Geng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Huabin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yunping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors