Prevalence of nasal symptoms and their relation to self-reported asthma and chronic bronchitis/emphysema

Little information is available on associations between rhinitis and chroni c bronchitis/emphysema (CBE), Self-reported upper airway symptoms, asthma, and CBE were examined in 12,07 9 adults living in southern Sweden, The response rate was 70% (n=8,469), of whom 33% reported significant nasal symptoms: a blocked nose was reported by 21%; sneezing by 18%,; nasal disc harge by 17%; and thick yellow nasal discharge by 5.7%,. Nasal symptoms and combined nasal and self-reported bronchial disease mere generally more com mon among smokers than nonsmokers. There was little overlap between asthma and CBE, but 46% of those with asthma and 40% of those with CBE had signifi cant nasal symptoms. Rest predicting factors (odds ratios >3) for asthma an d CBE were nasal symptoms due to exposure to animals and damp/cold air, res pectively. One-third of an adult, southern Swedish population, had significant allergi c and/or nonallergic nasal symptoms. Nasal symptoms were frequently found t o coexist with both asthma and chronic bronchitis/emphysema, suggesting tha t pan-airway engagement is common in both diseases. Differing associations between types of nasal symptoms and allergic and irritant triggers of nasal symptoms, with regard to asthma and chronic bronchitis/emphysema, emphasiz e the different natures of these bronchial diseases.