Asthma diagnosis and symptoms in an allergen immunotherapy trial treating grass pollen induced rhinoconjunctivitis

Abstract

Background: Asthma and allergic rhinitis are prevalent morbidities in Western populations. A strong association between asthma and allergic rhinitis is well established. It is therefore good practice to screen rhinitis patients for asthma and asthma patients for rhinitis. ILIT. NU is a double blind, placebo controlled, randomized, multi-site phase 3 trial aiming to test efficacy and safety of intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT) for grass pollen allergic rhinitis (EudraCT 2020- 001060- 28, BASEC Nr 2021- 023001, Clinicaltrials: NCT05191186).

Method

Individuals interested in the trial completed online questionnaires including the Respiratory Health In Northern Europe 3 (RHINE 3) questionnaire. Data regarding asthma and respiratory symptoms within 12 months (wheeze, dyspnea, chronic cough, expectoration and waking with chest tightness; cough or dyspnea) were extracted from the completed questionnaires.

Results

In total, 2274 adults completed the online screening in Denmark (2102), Sweden (112) and Switzerland (60). Data was insufficient from 41 individuals (1.8%). Ever doctor-diagnosed asthma was reported by 680 (29.9%) individuals. Of these, 349 (51.3%) reported trouble with their asthma within 12 months. Among symptomatic 260 (74.4%) reported current use of asthma medication. A total of 1553 (68.3%) reported no asthma and no COPD diagnosis. Among these 800 (51.5%) reported one or more symptoms within the last twelve months that could suggest airway disease.

Conclusion: In this screening of patients interested in immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis, an asthma diagnosis or symptoms suggesting asthma are overrepresented.