The Prevalence and Impact of Allergic Rhinitis on Asthma Exacerbations in Asthmatic Adult Patients in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective We aim to evaluate the prevalence and impact of allergic rhinitis comorbidity in asthmatic patients in the Qassim region and identify whether rhinitis affects asthma control. Methods This is an observational cross-sectional study on asthmatic adults who live in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was distributed through social media. The questionnaire is composed of the validated Arabic versions of the Score for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR) questionnaire, the Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines, and the Asthma Control Test (ACT) questionnaire. Results The total number of participants was 380; however, after 98 were excluded, 282 asthmatic patients were included in this study. Of them, 33% had allergic rhinitis. Females constitute 67% of the study participants, while males comprise 33%. The findings of the study indicate that there is a significant association between allergic rhinitis and asthma control in the Qassim region. Symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and nasal obstruction are significantly associated with poor asthma control (p = 0.006). Having a known family history of asthma, eczema, or allergic rhinitis is significantly associated with worse asthma control (0.004). Conclusion In summary, this study found a high prevalence of rhinitis symptoms comorbidity in asthmatic patients in the Qassim region. Overall, the study established the existence of a relationship between allergic rhinitis and asthmatic control. Symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, and nasal obstruction are significantly associated with allergic rhinitis and asthmatic symptoms. However, there is no significant association between nose problems that occur in specific seasons or months and allergic rhinitis and asthmatic symptoms, suggesting that seasonality may not have a strong impact on asthma control. House dust mite allergies have a borderline significant association with allergic rhinitis and asthmatic symptoms. Having a family history of asthma, eczema, or allergic rhinitis is associated with allergic rhinitis and asthmatic symptoms, thereby indicating a significant impact on asthma control.

Allergic rhinitis and other comorbidities associated with asthma control in Thailand

“…The occurrence of AR in asthmatic patients has been addressed in previous large-scale studies and in the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines ( 31 – 33 ). Our AR prevalence in asthmatic patients (79%) is higher than studies in Saudi Arabia (33%) ( 34 ), Iran (47%) ( 35 ), Japan (67%) ( 36 ), Italy (60%) ( 37 ), and France (66%) ( 38 ) but is lower than the United States (94%) ( 39 ). There was concordance between the ISAAC-definition of AR and clinical diagnoses, indicating that diagnosis by clinicians was as reliable as the standard questionnaire used in epidemiological surveys.…”