title: The impact of co-existing seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by Japanese Cedar Pollinosis (SAR-JCP) upon asthma control status.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis Caused by Japanese Cedar Pollinosis (SAR-JCP) is a most common allergic rhinitis, affecting about 40% in Japan, but the influence from SAR-JCP upon asthma is controversial. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of coexistence of SAR-JCP upon control status of asthma using SACRA (Self-Assessment of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Questionnaire).
  
  
  METHODS
  The design was prospective, single-center, observational study. Asthmatic patients were classified into 3 groups, patients without rhinitis, those with perennial rhinitis or those with SAR-JCP from the results of SACRA. The control status of asthma were evaluated by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) in SACRA and Asthma Control Test (ACT) score. They were evaluated twice, from September to January (nonpollen-season) and February to April (pollen-season) and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  451 patients were enrolled and 325 cases (72%) were diagnosed as having comorbidity of rhinitis, among which 173 with only perennial rhinitis, while 152 with SAR-JCP. There was no significant difference in asthma control level measured by VAS and ACT score among 3 groups during nonpollen-season. The asthma control level measured by VAS (1.91-2.95) and ACT score (22.7-21.6) got worse during pollen-season among patients with SAR-JCP, even though 84% received treatment for rhinitis. Although it differed according to criteria, asthma control during pollen-season was impaired in 18-38% asthmatic patients with SAR-JCP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to minimize the influence of AR on asthma control by obtaining an accurate diagnosis and providing sufficient treatment for rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Division of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: mhojo@hosp.ncgm.go.jp.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hojo
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoyasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iikura
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hirashima
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruhito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D032485:Cryptomeria / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Asthma control test; Bronchial asthma; Japanese cedar pollinosis; SACRA questionnaire