Rhinitis therapy and the prevention of hospital care for asthma: A case-control study

Jonathan Corren, Beatrice E. Manning, Stephen F. Thompson, Sean Hennessy, Brian L. Strom

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

184 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Although clinical trials have demonstrated that rhinitis therapy improves subjective and objective measures of asthma, it is uncertain whether treatment of allergic rhinitis significantly affects the frequency of asthma exacerbations. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether treatment with intranasal corticosteroids and/or second-generation antihistamines is associated with changes in rates of asthma exacerbations resulting in emergency room visits and/or hospitalizations in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis. Methods: This was a nested, case-control study. Results: Treatment with either nasal corticosteroids or second-generation antihistamines was associated with a lower risk of asthma-related emergency room treatment and hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.51; 95%, CI, 0.34 to 0.77 and 0.34, 0.18 to 0.62, respectively). Patients who used nasal corticosteroids had a significantly lower risk of both asthma-related emergency room treatment and hospitalization (adjusted OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.91 and 0.56, 0.42 to 0.76, respectively), whereas there was a trend toward lower risk of emergency room treatment and hospitalization in patients who used second-generation antihistamines (adjusted OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.62 to 1.26 and 0.68, 0.40 to 1.14, respectively). Combined treatment with both medications was associated with a further lowering of the risk of both emergency room treatment and hospitalization (adjusted OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.73 and 0.22, 0.07 to 0.63). Conclusions: In patients with asthma, treatment of concomitant allergic rhinitis was associated with significant reductions in risk of emergency room treatment and hospitalization for asthma.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)415-419
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume113
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2004
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

Keywords

  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Antihistamine
  • Asthma
  • Corticosteroid
  • Emergency room
  • Hospitalization

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