Cold-induced rhinitis in skiers - Clinical aspects and treatment with ipratropium bromide nasal spray: A randomized controlled trial

Cold-induced rhinitis (CIR) is common among skiers and is perceived as a tr oublesome disease. We studied the clinical characteristics of CIR in a popu lation of skiers and we evaluated the effectiveness of ipratrophan bromide nasal spray (IBNS) in relieving symptoms in a double-blind placebo-controll ed fashion. By means of specific questionnaires, we evaluated 144 subjects (69% men; mean age, 42.2 years). The prevalence of CIR was 48.6% and the di stinctive symptom was rhinorrhea (96%), often severe. The prevalence of ato py was higher in the CIR patients (chi (2); p = 0.004). Twenty-eight CIR su bjects participated in a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over trial f or evaluating the effectiveness of IBNS (80 mug twice per day [b.i.d.]). Th e severity of symptoms was assessed by a visual analog scale, and the numbe r of cleaning tissues used also was evaluated. The actively treated group s howed a significant improvement of rhinorrhea (p = 0.0007) and a reduction in the number of cleaning tissues used (p = 0.0023). Only four mild local s ide effects were reported. We conclude that IBNS could be regarded as an op timal therapeutic option for treating CIR symptoms in skiers.