Rates of new asthma diagnosis in patients with allergic rhinitis in otorhinolaryngology practice in the Eastern Black Sea region

Abstract

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common disease observed in otorhinolaryngology (ORL) practice. The aim of the study was to determine the rates of new asthma diagnosis in the patient population newly diagnosed with AR in otorhinolaryngology (ORL) practice in the Eastern Black Sea region. Material/Methods: This study retrospectively evaluated the files of patients admitted to an ORL outpatient clinic in Rize, Turkey between April 2011 and June 2012 and who were diagnosed with AR for the first time upon detection of aeroallergen sensitization in the prick test. Within this patient group, the files of patients who were also diagnosed with asthma in the same time period were examined. The files of patients who had previously been diagnosed with or treated for AR and/or asthma and with nasal polyposis and lower respiratory tract disease were excluded from the study. Results: There were 267 patients with a mean age of 37.5±14.9 (10–77 years) diagnosed with AR for the first time in the ORL outpatient clinic. The most common allergens were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (81.3% [217/267]), D. farinae (73.8% [197/267]), and grass mix (61.4% [164/267]). Of this patient group, 29.2% were diagnosed with asthma: 15% (40/267) with intermittent asthma, 13.9% (37/267) with mild persistent asthma, and 0.3% (1/267) with moderate persistent asthma. Conclusions: A rate of 29.2% for new asthma diagnoses in the Eastern Black Sea region in patients diagnosed with AR for the first time indicates a need to examine asthma complaints in all patients newly diagnosed with AR in ORL practices. © Med Sci Tech, 2016.