Association of rhinitis with asthma prevalence and severity.

Asthma and rhinitis often co-exist in the same patient. Although some authors observed a higher prevalence and/or greater severity of asthma in patients with rhinitis, this view is not homogeneous and the debate continues. The aim of our study is to describe the prevalence of rhinitis in children and adolescents and to analyse their relationship with the prevalence of asthma. A multicentre study was conducted using the methodology of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). The target population of the study was all those school children aged 6-7 and 13-14 years from 6 of the main health catchment areas of Galicia (1.9 million inhabitants). The schools required were randomly selected, and all children in the targeted age ranges were included. Multiple logistic regression was used to obtain adjusted prevalence odds ratios (OR) between asthma symptoms of the schoolchildren and rhinitis prevalence. The results were adjusted for parental smoking habits, maternal education level, cat and dog exposure, and obesity. A total of 21,420 valid questionnaires were finally obtained. Rhinitis was associated with a significant increase in the prevalence of asthma in both age groups. The highest OR were 11.375 for exercise induced asthma (EIA) for children with recent rhinoconjunctivitis and 9.807 for children with recent rhinitis in 6-7 years old group. The prevalence OR's are higher in EIA and severe asthmatics. Rhinitis in children and adolescents is associated with a higher prevalence and severity of asthma.

Prevalencia de síntomas de asma en los niños y adolescentes de la Comunidad Autónoma de Galicia (España) y sus variaciones geográficas / Prevalence and Geographic Variations in Asthma Symptoms in Children and Adolescents in Galicia (Spain)

Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia y variaciones geográficas de síntomas relacionados con asma enniños y adolescentes gallegos.Población y métodos: Estudio transversal según la metodología ISAAC (Internacional Study of Asthmaand Allergies in Childhood) mediante cuestionario escrito distribuido en el medio escolar. Se incluyeron10.371 niños de 6-7 años y 10.372 adolescentes de 13-14 años de todas las Áreas Sanitarias de Galicia. Seanalizaron las variaciones geográficas mediante un modelo de regresión logística.Resultados: Las sibilancias en los últimos 12 meses oscilaron en los pequeños, del 11,4 (Santiago) al 15,7%(Vigo) y en los adolescentes del 8,8 (Ourense) al 18,8% (Vigo). Según el género se observó una mayorfrecuencia en varones de 6-7 años (p < 0,001) y con tendencia a la significación estadística en las chicasde 13-14 años (p = 0,08). El riesgo (Odds ratio [OR]) de sibilancias en los últimos 12 meses, en el área demayor prevalencia con respecto a la de menor, fue 1,45 (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%: 1,12-1,88)en niños y 2,39 (IC 95%: 1,82-3,13) en adolescentes. La prevalencia de asma estimada para Galicia fue de13,6% en niños y 12,2% en adolescentes.Conclusiones: La prevalencia de sibilancias en los últimos 12 meses en las diferentes áreas gallegas essensiblemente superior al resto de ciudades españolas participantes en el ISAAC en los pequeños, siendomuy similar en los adolescentes, salvo en Vigo donde es sensiblemente superior. Encontramos un patróngeográficomuydefinido en los adolescentes, siendo mayores las prevalencias en la costa que en el interior(AU)

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and geographic variations of the symptoms associated withasthma in Galician children and adolescents.Population and methods: A cross-sectional epidemiological study following ISAAC (International Studyof Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) methodology, and using a written questionnaire distributed inschools. The study sample included 10,371 6-7 year-old children and 10,372 13-14 year-old adolescents,all of them from Galician Health Areas. A logistic regression model was used to analyse geographic variations. Results: In the 6-7 year-old group, wheezing in the last 12 months varied from 11.4% (Santiago) to 15.7%(Vigo) and in the adolescents varied from 8.8% (Ourense) to 18.8% (Vigo). The distribution by gender showeda predominant significance in 6-7 year-old males (P < .001), and near to be statistically significant in 13-14year-old females (P = .08). The risk (odds ratio [OR]) of wheezing in the last 12 months in the area withhighest prevalence in comparison with the area of lowest prevalence was 1.45 (95% Confidence Interval[CI], 1.12-1.88) for children and 2.39 (95% CI, 1.82-3.13) for adolescents. The estimated prevalence of asthmain the Autonomous Community of Galicia was 13.6% in younger children and 12.2% in adolescents.Conclusions: The prevalence of wheezing in the last 12 months in the different areas of Galicia is considerablyhigher than the rest of Spanish ISAAC cities in the 6-7 years group and very similar in the 13-14 yearsgroup, except in Vigo where it is considerably higher. We found a clearly defined geographic pattern inthe adolescent group, with higher prevalences in coastal areas than in the interior(AU)

Prevalence and geographic variations in asthma symptoms in children and adolescents in Galicia (Spain).

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and geographic variations of the symptoms associated with asthma in Galician children and adolescents. POPULATION AND METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological study following ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) methodology, and using a written questionnaire distributed in schools. The study sample included 10,371 6-7 year-old children and 10,372 13-14 year-old adolescents, all of them from Galician Health Areas. A logistic regression model was used to analyse geographic variations. RESULTS: In the 6-7 year-old group, wheezing in the last 12 months varied from 11.4% (Santiago) to 15.7% (Vigo) and in the adolescents varied from 8.8% (Ourense) to 18.8% (Vigo). The distribution by gender showed a predominant significance in 6-7 year-old males (P<.001), and near to be statistically significant in 13-14 year-old females (P=.08). The risk (odds ratio [OR]) of wheezing in the last 12 months in the area with highest prevalence in comparison with the area of lowest prevalence was 1.45 (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.12-1.88) for children and 2.39 (95% CI, 1.82-3.13) for adolescents. The estimated prevalence of asthma in the Autonomous Community of Galicia was 13.6% in younger children and 12.2% in adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of wheezing in the last 12 months in the different areas of Galicia is considerably higher than the rest of Spanish ISAAC cities in the 6-7 years group and very similar in the 13-14 years group, except in Vigo where it is considerably higher. We found a clearly defined geographic pattern in the adolescent group, with higher prevalences in coastal areas than in the interior.