Visual analogue scale assessment of nasal obstruction might define patients candidates to spirometry.

BACKGROUND: Asthma may be frequently associated with allergic rhinitis. Bronchial obstruction is a characteristic of asthma and spirometry is a cardinal step in asthma diagnosis. However, spirometry is rarely suitable in medical office. Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) is frequently used in common practice. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at evaluating the suitability of the use of VAS assessment of nasal obstruction to define patients with allergic rhinitis candidates for spirometry. METHODS: 1728 patients with allergic rhinitis were consecutively evaluated. Clinical examination, skin prick test, VAS assessment, and spirometry were performed in all patients. RESULTS: 7.9% of patients had impaired FEV1 values and 24.5% had impaired FEF25-75 values. A VAS value < 3.3 might identify with good reliability patients with impaired FEF25-75 values, such as having initial bronchial airflow limitation. CONCLUSIONS: This study, performed in a large cohort of subjects, highlights the close link between upper and lower airways and shows the possible suitability of the use of nasal obstruction VAS assessment to define patients with allergic rhinitis candidates for spirometry.

Assessment of the bronchodilation test by visual analog scale in the selection of patients with rhinitis for screening spirometry.

BACKGROUND: The nose and bronchi are closely linked, and rhinitis often precedes the onset of asthma. Bronchial obstruction is a characteristic of asthma, and demonstration of its reversibility is a key element in diagnosis. However, reversibility testing requires a spirometer, which is rarely available in the doctor's office. Visual analog scales (VAS) are frequently used in daily practice. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the suitability of a VAS for assessing bronchodilation in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis as a means of selecting candidates for screening spirometry. METHODS: We evaluated 120 patients with moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis. All patients underwent a clinical examination, skin prick test, spirometry, bronchodilation test, and VAS. RESULTS: Patients with rhinitis showed significantly increased forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) after the bronchodilation test (median, 11.5%). Positive results were observed in 60%, and VAS values increased (>30%) after the test. There was a significant relationship between deltaVAS and deltaFEV1 (P<.0001; r=0.482). CONCLUSION: This preliminary study shows that patients with moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis often experience an increase in FEV1 after the bronchodilation test. VAS assessment of the test might be useful when selecting candidates for spirometry for possible bronchial involvement.

Visual analogue scale assessment of respiration might be a surrogate for spirometry in allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) may be frequently associated with or precede asthma. Bronchial involvement in AR is usually detected by spirometry, however, spirometers are rarely available. The aim of this study is to verify the suitability of the use of visual analogue scales (VAS) as a surrogate for screening spirometry in assessing respiration in AR patients. One hundred twenty patients with allergic rhinitis were studied. VAS for respiration assessment and spirometry were performed in all patients. There was a significant, though weak, relationship between VAS assessment of respiration and FEV(1) (p=0.0076; r=0.244). In conclusion, this preliminary study suggests the use of VAS as screening to assess the respiration of patients with allergic rhinitis who may be candidates for spirometry.