Analysis of Relationship Between Asthma and Rhinitis Symptoms in Patients Treated in University Hospital by Using Sacra Questionnaire

RationaleRecently, a nation-wide study investigating the relationship between rhinitis and asthma symptoms (SACRA study) was performed in Japan and 67.4% of asthma patients were diagnosed to have rhinitis and the relationship between asthma and rhinitis were shown. But in SACRA study, 86% of participants were primary care physicians and the effect of treatment was not evaluated. We investigated if the same relationship is also observed in patients treated by specialists and the effect of treatment was also evaluated.MethodsAsthma patients diagnosed by specialists were enrolled and consecutive 111 patients filled the SACRA questionnaire.ResultsOne hundred questionnaire (90.1%) was available and 65% of those cases were diagnosed as rhinitis. SACRA questionnaire contains visual analogue scale (VAS) and VAS of asthma symptom was significantly longer in rhinitis (+) as compared to rhinitis (-) (28.2 vs 11.2 mm), but the absolute length was shorter than nation-wide study (47.5 vs 29 mm). The ratio of uncontrolled asthma was significantly higher in rhinitis (+) (16.9 vs 5.7%). VAS of asthma and rhinitis were significantly and positively correlated. Although leukotriene receptor antagonist (50 vs 24.2%) and anti-histamine (48.3 vs 18.2%) was significantly more frequently prescribed, asthma control was still significantly worse in rhinitis (+), as described above. Twenty (33.3%) out of 60 rhinitis (+) patients were newly diagnosed as rhinitis by SACRA questionnaire, suggesting its potential usefulness in diagnosing rhinitis.ConclusionsThe significant difference in asthma control depending on rhinitis was still observed in patients treated by specialists and closer attention should be paid for rhinitis in asthma. RationaleRecently, a nation-wide study investigating the relationship between rhinitis and asthma symptoms (SACRA study) was performed in Japan and 67.4% of asthma patients were diagnosed to have rhinitis and the relationship between asthma and rhinitis were shown. But in SACRA study, 86% of participants were primary care physicians and the effect of treatment was not evaluated. We investigated if the same relationship is also observed in patients treated by specialists and the effect of treatment was also evaluated. Recently, a nation-wide study investigating the relationship between rhinitis and asthma symptoms (SACRA study) was performed in Japan and 67.4% of asthma patients were diagnosed to have rhinitis and the relationship between asthma and rhinitis were shown. But in SACRA study, 86% of participants were primary care physicians and the effect of treatment was not evaluated. We investigated if the same relationship is also observed in patients treated by specialists and the effect of treatment was also evaluated. MethodsAsthma patients diagnosed by specialists were enrolled and consecutive 111 patients filled the SACRA questionnaire. Asthma patients diagnosed by specialists were enrolled and consecutive 111 patients filled the SACRA questionnaire. ResultsOne hundred questionnaire (90.1%) was available and 65% of those cases were diagnosed as rhinitis. SACRA questionnaire contains visual analogue scale (VAS) and VAS of asthma symptom was significantly longer in rhinitis (+) as compared to rhinitis (-) (28.2 vs 11.2 mm), but the absolute length was shorter than nation-wide study (47.5 vs 29 mm). The ratio of uncontrolled asthma was significantly higher in rhinitis (+) (16.9 vs 5.7%). VAS of asthma and rhinitis were significantly and positively correlated. Although leukotriene receptor antagonist (50 vs 24.2%) and anti-histamine (48.3 vs 18.2%) was significantly more frequently prescribed, asthma control was still significantly worse in rhinitis (+), as described above. Twenty (33.3%) out of 60 rhinitis (+) patients were newly diagnosed as rhinitis by SACRA questionnaire, suggesting its potential usefulness in diagnosing rhinitis. One hundred questionnaire (90.1%) was available and 65% of those cases were diagnosed as rhinitis. SACRA questionnaire contains visual analogue scale (VAS) and VAS of asthma symptom was significantly longer in rhinitis (+) as compared to rhinitis (-) (28.2 vs 11.2 mm), but the absolute length was shorter than nation-wide study (47.5 vs 29 mm). The ratio of uncontrolled asthma was significantly higher in rhinitis (+) (16.9 vs 5.7%). VAS of asthma and rhinitis were significantly and positively correlated. Although leukotriene receptor antagonist (50 vs 24.2%) and anti-histamine (48.3 vs 18.2%) was significantly more frequently prescribed, asthma control was still significantly worse in rhinitis (+), as described above. Twenty (33.3%) out of 60 rhinitis (+) patients were newly diagnosed as rhinitis by SACRA questionnaire, suggesting its potential usefulness in diagnosing rhinitis. ConclusionsThe significant difference in asthma control depending on rhinitis was still observed in patients treated by specialists and closer attention should be paid for rhinitis in asthma. The significant difference in asthma control depending on rhinitis was still observed in patients treated by specialists and closer attention should be paid for rhinitis in asthma.