Temporal relationship of allergic rhinitis with asthma and other co-morbidities in a Mediterranean country: a retrospective study in a tertiary reference allergy clinic.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Allergic rhinitis is a global health problem which causes major illness and represents a risk factor for asthma. The primary aim of the study was to record the clinical pattern of allergic rhinitis and its temporal relation with asthma in a Greek population.

METHODS:

Three-hundred and sixteen subjects with documented diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in a two-year period were included in this study. All participants completed a standardised questionnaire with full retrospective epidemiological data for rhinitis; in addition, serum IgE measurement and skin prick tests with 22 common inhalant allergens were carried out, while spirometry was performed in subjects with self-reported or doctor-diagnosed asthma. All subjects with at least one positive skin test were included in study analysis.

RESULTS:

One-hundred and sixty five out of 316 patients (49.1%) stated self reported-asthma while in 63/316 (19.9%) asthma was documented with spirometry. One hundred out of 165 (60.6%) had rhinitis as first clinical manifestation while in 24/165 (14.5%) asthma symptoms appeared first; the remaining 31/165 (24.9%) reported simultaneous onset of upper and lower airways' symptoms. About 68.5% were sensitised to seasonal allergens exclusively, while 50% were sensitised to ≥ 1 of Parietaria, grasses sp., Olea eur. The duration of rhinitis in the subpopulation of patients with self-reported asthma (n=165) was significantly higher compared with non-asthmatics (mean=3.22 years, p<0.001). Survival analysis for the estimation of asthma onset showed that the mean time interval with rhinitis only is 16.6 years (median 12 years, incidence 0.0596).

CONCLUSIONS:

The unique environmental conditions and the aerobiology of each area clearly affect the clinical features of respiratory allergy.

• Authors: M Makris, S Koulouris, I Koti, X Aggelides, K Sideri, C Chliva, E Vassilatou, D Kalogeromitros
• Journal: Allergologia et immunopathologia (Allergol Immunopathol (Madr)) 2010 Sep-Oct Vol. 38 Issue 5 Pg. 246-53 ISSN: 1578-1267 [Electronic] Singapore
• PMID: 20398996 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2009 SEICAP. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Allergens

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Allergens (immunology)
• Asthma (diagnosis, epidemiology, physiopathology)
• Comorbidity
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Greece
• Humans
• Incidence
• Male
• Mediterranean Region
• Parietaria
• Pollen (immunology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal (diagnosis, epidemiology, physiopathology)
• Skin Tests
• Spirometry