A survey of allergic rhinitis in Taiwanese asthma patients.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) often coexists with and can significantly worsen bronchial asthma (BA). We evaluated the proportion of patients with BA and concomitant AR (BA+AR) diagnosed and treated in an average clinical practice.

Methods: A cross-sectional study methodology was used to determine the prevalence of AR in patients more than 15 years of age with a documented history of asthma who experienced wheezing during the prior 12 months. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood standardized written questionnaire was used and therapeutic class choices were recorded.

Results: Among 750 surveyed asthma patients, 524 patients (69.9%) experienced AR. Of those with BA and AR, there were 44 patients (8.4%) who were not diagnosed with AR, and the treatment rate for AR was 62.1%. The most frequent severity level of BA and AR were moderate persistent (38.9%) and intermittent mild (52.5%), respectively. There were no significant differences between patients with AR and without AR.

Conclusions: The prevalence of AR in patients with asthma was 69.9% in this study. Despite Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma guideline recommendations encouraging evaluation and treatment of AR among asthmatics, nearly 8.4% of asthmatics with AR were undiagnosed, and 37.9% of asthmatics with AR were untreated for AR.