Nonallergic rhinitis and its association with smoking and lower airway disease: A general population study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Nonallergic rhinitis and its association with smoking and lower airway disease: A general population study

AU - Håkansson, Kåre

AU - von Buchwald, Christian

AU - Thomsen, Simon F

AU - Thyssen, Jacob P

AU - Backer, Vibeke

AU - Linneberg, Allan

PY - 2011/1/1

Y1 - 2011/1/1

N2 - Background: The cause of nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) and its relation to lower airway disease remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to perform a descriptive analysis of the occurrence of rhinitis in a Danish general population with focus on NAR and its association with smoking and lower airway disease. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study conducted in Copenhagen, Denmark was performed. A random sample from the general population (n = 7931; age, 18-69 years) was invited to a general health examination including measurements of serum-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) to common aeroallergens; 3471 (44%) persons were accepted. For further analysis, we divided the population into the following groups: (I) negative specific IgE and no rhinitis (controls); (II) negative specific IgE and rhinitis (NAR); (III) positive specific IgE and rhinitis (allergic rhinitis [AR]); and (IV) positive specific IgE but no rhinitis (sensitized). Results: We found that NAR was associated with asthma (odds ratio [OR] = 2.51 [1.87-3.37]); chronic bronchitis (OR = 2.27 [1.85-2.79]); current smoking (>15 g/day; OR = 1.57 [1.18 -2.08]); lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV 1/FVC) ratios and reduced FEV 1 values. The association with chronic bronchitis was stronger in NAR than in AR, whereas the opposite was true for asthma. FEV 1/FVC of <70% was not significantly associated to any group. Conclusion: This epidemiological study indicates that both asthma and chronic bronchitis are important comorbidities in NAR confirming the "united airway" hypothesis, and that smoking might be a significant modulator of disease. Although NAR was significantly associated with poor lung function, no significant association with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was shown.

AB - Background: The cause of nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) and its relation to lower airway disease remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to perform a descriptive analysis of the occurrence of rhinitis in a Danish general population with focus on NAR and its association with smoking and lower airway disease. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study conducted in Copenhagen, Denmark was performed. A random sample from the general population (n = 7931; age, 18-69 years) was invited to a general health examination including measurements of serum-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) to common aeroallergens; 3471 (44%) persons were accepted. For further analysis, we divided the population into the following groups: (I) negative specific IgE and no rhinitis (controls); (II) negative specific IgE and rhinitis (NAR); (III) positive specific IgE and rhinitis (allergic rhinitis [AR]); and (IV) positive specific IgE but no rhinitis (sensitized). Results: We found that NAR was associated with asthma (odds ratio [OR] = 2.51 [1.87-3.37]); chronic bronchitis (OR = 2.27 [1.85-2.79]); current smoking (>15 g/day; OR = 1.57 [1.18 -2.08]); lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV 1/FVC) ratios and reduced FEV 1 values. The association with chronic bronchitis was stronger in NAR than in AR, whereas the opposite was true for asthma. FEV 1/FVC of <70% was not significantly associated to any group. Conclusion: This epidemiological study indicates that both asthma and chronic bronchitis are important comorbidities in NAR confirming the "united airway" hypothesis, and that smoking might be a significant modulator of disease. Although NAR was significantly associated with poor lung function, no significant association with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was shown.

U2 - 10.2500/ajra.2011.25.3556

DO - 10.2500/ajra.2011.25.3556

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1945-8924

VL - 25

SP - 25

EP - 29

JO - American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy

JF - American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy

IS - 1

ER -