TY - JOUR
TI - Temporal relationship of allergic rhinitis with asthma and other
co-morbidities in a Mediterranean country: A retrospective study in a
tertiary reference allergy clinic
AU - Makris, M.
AU - Koulouris, S.
AU - Koti, I.
AU - Aggelides, X.
AU - Sideri,
AU - K.
AU - Chliva, C.
AU - Vassilatou, E.
AU - Kalogeromitros, D.
JO - Allergologia et Immunopathologia
PY - 2010
VL - 38
TODO - 5
SP - 246-253
PB - ELSEVIER ESPANA SLU
SN - 0301-0546
TODO - 10.1016/j.aller.2009.11.007
TODO - Allergn; Allergic rhinitis; Asthma; Epidemiology; Incidence; Prevalence;
Respiratory allergy; Sensitisation
TODO - 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.
(C) 2009 SEICAP. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.
ER -