title: Impact of rhinitis on lung function in children and adolescents without asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Subclinical spirometric abnormalities may be detected in patients with rhinitis without asthma, proportional to the severity established by ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma) guidelines. New criteria of rhinitis classification were recently validated according to the ARIA modified (m-ARIA), which allow the discrimination between moderate to severe grades. The impact of rhinitis on lung function according to frequency and severity is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate subclinical spirometric impairment in children and adolescents with allergic and non-allergic rhinitis without overt symptoms of asthma, according to the frequency and severity criteria of rhinitis classified by m-ARIA.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational cross-sectional study, including children and adolescents aged 5-18 years with allergic and non-allergic rhinitis without asthma. We analysed the functional abnormalities and bronchodilator response with spirometry in relation to the grade of rhinitis established by m-ARIA using an adjusted logistic model. A value of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 189 patients; 22.2% showed spirometric abnormalities. Patients with persistent rhinitis had greater impairment of lung function compared to intermittent grade (p=0.026). Lung functional impairment was more frequent in severe and moderate rhinitis than mild grade (p=0.005) and was independent of the atopic status to both frequency (p=0.157) and severity (p=0.538). There was no difference in bronchodilator reversibility between groups (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Impaired lung function was associated with persistence and severity of rhinitis and there was no significant difference between patients with moderate and severe rhinitis. The spirometric abnormality was demonstrated in patients with allergic and non-allergic rhinitis.
authors: Allergy and Immunology Division, Clínica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: rsaranz@arnet.com.ar.
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Saranz
authors: Allergy and Immunology Division, Clínica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Argentina.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Lozano
authors: Immunoal.lèrgia Respiratòria Clínica i Experimental (IRCE), Institut d'Investigacions Biomédiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Barcelona, Spain; Allergy Unit, Pneumology and Respiratory Allergy Hospital Clinic i Universitari, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Valero
authors: Allergy and Immunology Division, Clínica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Argentina.
authors: N A
authors: NA
authors: Lozano
authors: Allergy and Immunology Division, Clínica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Argentina.
authors: M D P
authors: MD
authors: Bovina Martijena
authors: Allergy and Immunology Division, Clínica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Argentina.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Agresta
authors: Allergy and Immunology Division, Clínica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Argentina.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Ianiero
authors: INICSA-CONICET, Catedra de Fisiologia Humana, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors: M F
authors: MF
authors: Ponzio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013147:Spirometry
keywords: ARIA; Classification; Lung function test; Rhinitis; Spirometry