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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Background: Rhinitis prevalence is increasing worldwide and is frequently associated with
asthma, for which it is a risk factor. The aims of the study were to characterise the adult population
with rhinitis attending the Cova da Beira Hospital Allergy Clinic, and to assess the relationship
between rhinitis and asthma.
Methods: In total, 686 patients were characterised by clinical history and anterior rhinoscopy,
and classified according to international guidelines. Atopy was determined by skin prick testing
to aeroallergens and quantification of specific IgE.
Results: Seventy two percent of patients had allergic rhinitis (AR), and 28% had non-allergic
rhinitis (NAR). NAR was more frequently associated with older age, perennial symptoms and
female gender. NAR patients more frequently had bronchial asthma. In addition, more NAR
than AR patients also had drug allergy, pharyngitis, sinusitis and urticaria. AR patients with
nasal polyps more frequently had asthma. Grass pollen and mites were the major sensitisers
for AR patients. Sensitisation profiles were not significantly different between urban- and ruralbased
AR patients.
Conclusions: Asthma was more frequently associated with non-allergic than with allergic rhinitis.
The two types of rhinitis did not differ in clinical severity. Although sensitisation profiles
were not different between the urban and rural patients, allergic rhinitis prevalence was higher
in urban patients.
Description
Keywords
Adult Age Factors Asthma Chi-Square Distribution Female Humans Male Portugal Prevalence Rhinitis Rhinitis Allergic Perennial Risk Factors Skin Tests Statistics Nonparametric