The prevalence of asthma and its association with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) have not been widely studied in population-based epidemiological surveys.
The Global Allergy and Asthma Network of Excellence (GA(2) LEN) conducted a postal questionnaire in representative samples of adults living in Europe to assess the presence of asthma and CRS defined by the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps. The prevalence of self-reported current asthma by age group was determined. The association of asthma with CRS in each participating centre was assessed using logistic regression analyses, controlling for age, sex and smoking, and the effect estimates were combined using standard methods of meta-analysis.
Over 52,000 adults aged 18-75 years and living in 19 centres in 12 countries took part. In most centres, and overall, the reported prevalence of asthma was lower in older adults (adjusted OR for 65-74 years compared with 15-24 years: 0.72; 95 % CI: 0.63-0.81). In all centres, there was a strong association of asthma with CRS (adjusted OR: 3.47; 95 % CI: 3.20-3.76) at all ages. The association with asthma was stronger in those reporting both CRS and allergic rhinitis (adjusted OR: 11.85; 95 % CI: 10.57-13.17). CRS in the absence of nasal allergies was positively associated with late-onset asthma.
Geographical variation in the prevalence of self-reported asthma was observed across Europe, but overall, self-reported asthma was more common in young adults, women and smokers. In all age groups, men and women, and irrespective of smoking behaviour, asthma was also associated with CRS.
El “European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2012” es un documento de actualización de los artículos de posicionamiento similares, basados en la evidencia, publicados en 2005 y 2007.
En este amplio estudio poblacional, realizado en 12 países de Europa mediante cuestionario postal, se observó una importante asociación entre la presencia de RSC y el asma, en todos los grupos de edad analizados (entre 18 y 75 años).
Esta asociación fue aún más intensa en las personas que padecían tanto rinitis alérgica como RSC, lo que confirma numerosos estudios previos sobre la alta prevalencia de afectación de la vía aérea superior en pacientes con asma, especialmente alérgica, y refuerza el concepto de la vía aérea única o común.
La principal limitación de este estudio es que el diagnóstico del asma y la RSC se ha realizado mediante cuestionarios y, por lo tanto, no existe una confirmación objetiva del diagnóstico de ambos trastornos. También hubiera sido muy interesante investigar si existe una relación entre la gravedad de la rinitis o la rinosinusitis y la gravedad del asma, pero no consta que se haya realizado este tipo de estudio.