Asthma with allergic rhinitis management in China: a nationwide survey of respiratory specialists at tertiary hospitals. Issue 3 (15th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Su, Nan; Lin, Jiangtao; Liu, Guoliang; Yin, Kaisheng; Zhou, Xin; Shen, Huahao; Chen, Ping; Chen, Rongchang; Liu, Chuntao; Wu, Changgui; Zhao, Jianping; Lin, Yanping
• Is Part Of: International forum of allergy & rhinology. Volume 5:Issue 3(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 221
• Page End: 232
• Publication Date: 2014-11-15
• Subjects: 617.51005
• DOI: 10.1002/alr.21449
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2042-6976

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="alr21449-sec-0010" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Many asthmatic patients have coexisting allergic rhinitis (AR). This study aims to investigate the compliance of physicians with respiratory medicine specialty (PRMs) to Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines during the management of their asthma‐AR patients.</p> </sec> <sec id="alr21449-sec-0020" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>This cross‐sectional questionnaire study surveyed the diagnostic methods and treatment patterns for asthma‐AR comorbidity by PRMs from 98 hospitals across China.</p> </sec> <sec id="alr21449-sec-0030" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>PRMs reported an estimated prevalence of asthma‐AR comorbidity of >30% at their clinics. PRMs with greater work experience and a higher professional title estimated treating a significantly higher proportion of patients with AR within the previous month (<italic>p</italic> = 0.002 and <italic>p</italic> < 0.001, respectively); they also estimated a higher incidence of patients with AR in the autumn (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001 and <italic>p</italic> < 0.001). A higher percentage of PRMs with ≥11 years work experience prescribed nasal steroids for AR as compared to those with 1 to 10 years experience (56.9% vs 44.7%, <italic>p</italic> = 0.002). A greater proportion of chief physicians used leukotriene modifiers and a lower proportion used antihistamine H<sub>1</sub>‐receptor blockers for AR as compared to residents (resident vs assistant chief: 27.5% vs 11.6%, <italic>p</italic> = 0.002; and resident vs chief PRMs: 27.5% vs 9.5%, <italic>p</italic> = 0.001).</p> </sec> <sec id="alr21449-sec-0040" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>PRMs in China demonstrated an up‐to‐date comprehension of asthma management (>90%); however, knowledge gaps existed in their concepts of AR and asthma‐AR comorbidity. Thus, further education is warranted for PRMs regarding the importance of AR in asthma patients, definitive diagnosis (allergy tests), classifications of AR, and treatment guidelines for the asthma‐AR comorbidity.</p> </sec> </abstract>