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ABSTRACTObjective:To determine the characteristics of asthma (A) and allergic rhinitis (AR) among asthma patients in primary care practice.Research design and methods:Primary care physicians, pulmonologists, and allergologists were asked to recruit consecutive asthma patients with or without allergic rhinitis from their daily practice. Cross-sectional data on symptoms, severity, treatment and impact on quality of life of A and AR were recorded and examined using descriptive statistics. Patients with and without AR were then compared.Results:1244 asthma patients were included by 211 physicians. Asthma was controlled in 19, partially controlled in 27 and not controlled in 54. Asthma treatment was generally based on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) with or without long acting beta 2 agonists (78). A leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) was used by 46 of the patients. Overall, 950 (76) asthma patients had AR (A  AR) and 294 (24) did not (A − AR). Compared to patients with A − AR, A  AR patients were generally younger (mean age ± standard deviation: 42 ± 16 vs. 50 ± 19 years, p < 0.001) and fewer used ICS (75 vs. 88, p < 0.001). LTRA usage was similar in both groups (46 vs. 48). Asthma was uncontrolled in 53 of A  AR and 57 of A − AR patients. Allergic rhinitis was treated with a mean of 1.9 specific AR medications: antihistamines (77), nasal steroids (66) and/or vasoconstrictors (38), and/or LTRA (42). Rhinorrhoea, nasal obstruction, or nasal itching were the most frequently reported AR symptoms and the greatest reported degree of impairment was in daily activities/sports (55).Conclusions:Allergic rhinitis was more common among younger asthma patients, increased the burden of symptoms and the need for additional medication but was associated with improved asthma control. However, most asthma patients remained suboptimally controlled regardl-ess of concomitant AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It was the aim of this study to investigate the prevalence of otologic manifestations in a cohort of Samter’s syndrome patients (nasal polyps with chronic rhinosinusitis, aspirin intolerance and asthma). Methods: We analyzed a retrospective and prospective case review from 1995 to 2005, performed in the otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinic of a tertiary referral center. Ear history, clinical examinations, treatment and outcome were evaluated using office and hospital records in 23 cases. All subjects completed a questionnaire. Results: In 6 cases (26), otological manifestations with ear pressure and conductive hearing loss occurred during an advanced stage of Samter’s syndrome (>5 years after onset of the first nasal symptoms) partially responsive to systemic steroids. Conclusion: Recognition of the association between Samter’s syndrome and otological disease is important (26 of the cases) because it could also be responsive to systemic steroids which prevent progression to irreversible hearing loss or infectious otomastoiditis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]