Comparison of clinical characteristics between patients with non-allergic and allergic rhinitis.
- Author:
Lu-ping ZHU
1
;
Qi-lei TAO
;
Mei-ping LU
;
Yun-li WANG
;
Ruo-xi CHEN
;
Yi LU
;
Yan SHEN
;
Lei CHENG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Child, Preschool; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Rhinitis; diagnosis; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; diagnosis; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; diagnosis; Young Adult
- From: Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2012;47(7):559-564
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo analyze and compare the differences of clinical characteristics and comorbidities between patients with non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) and allergic rhinitis (AR).
METHODSA total of 556 out-patients were enrolled from January 2010 to June 2011. The chief complaints of the patients included at least two of the following nasal symptoms: nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and nasal itching. Based on the results of the disease history, physical examination and allergen skin prick test, the patients were classified into NAR group (n = 206) and AR group (n = 350). Detailed information including general data, nasal symptoms and signs, accompanied symptoms and comorbidities were obtained by questionnaires. A scoring was adopted to estimate the severity of disease. SPSS 13.0 software was applied for statistical analysis.
RESULTSThe mean age of NAR patients (31.8 ± 16.7) was older than that of AR patients (26.3 ± 14.8), and the difference was significant (t = 4.01, P = 0.0001). While there was no significant difference on gender distribution between two groups (χ² = 0.12, P = 0.73). The percentage of nasal congestion was not significantly different between NAR and AR patients (89.8% and 92.0%, respectively; χ² = 0.26, P = 0.611). However, the symptoms of rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal itching, eyes itching, lachrymation, wheeze and cough were more popular in AR patients than those in NAR patients (all P < 0.05). Moreover, above symptoms (except cough) were more serious in AR patients, and the symptom scores were significantly higher than those in NAR patients (all P < 0.05). Most of patients with NAR (67.0%) and AR (62.9%) were moderate-severe persistent (χ² = 1.25, P = 0.264). Accompanied asthma were more common in patients with AR (12.6%) compared with NAR (2.4%), while hypertension were more common in patients with NAR (7.3%) compared with AR (1.7%), and the differences were significant (both P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONNAR and AR are two different disease entities, which have different clinical characteristics, as well as different comorbidities. Further clinical study should be done on the rhinitis phenotypes.