This study aimed to investigate the effect of chronic rhinosinusitis/nasal polyposis on the severity of COPD and to find out whether the 'united airway disease' hypothesis is valid for COPD. The study enrolled 90 patients diagnosed and staged according to criteria of an international guideline for diagnosis and management of COPD. The patients in stages I and II were classified as Group 1 and the patients in stages III and IV as Group 2. All the patients were questioned about the presence of major and minor criteria of sinusitis, underwent paranasal sinus computed tomography (PNS-CT) scans, and answered a questionnaire based on a quality of life test for sinusitis (SNOT-20). Sinusitis was present in 48 (53%) patients according to criteria of major and minor symptoms, and in 58 (64%) patients according to Lund-Mackay scoring system of PNS-CT. There was no significant difference in CT score between Group 1 and Group 2 (2.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.1 +/- 0.4, p > 0.05). However, the frequency of minor symptoms was greater in Group 2. SNOT-20 score was significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (28.7 +/- 1.7 and 22.2 +/- 1.9, respectively, p = 0.014). A significant correlation was determined between Lund-Mackay and SNOT-20 scores. The presence of CRS should be assessed in COPD patients, especially in those with severe disease. Further research is needed to disclose possible common immunopathological mechanisms in the pathogeneses of COPD and CRS.

Although chronic urticaria is the most common cutaneous disorder seen in our outpatient allergy clinics, to our knowledge, no study of psychiatric morbidity in allergy departments has been carried out in our country. For the present study, we used the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) to evaluate the personality traits and psychological status of patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). Fifty-nine outpatients with CIU and 59 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. Patients were included if no specific cause for their urticaria could be identified by detailed history and appropriate investigations. Psychiatric evaluation for all patients and controls was conducted at the Department of Psychiatry by using MMPI. Analysis of the MMPI profile showed that the scores for hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria, psychopathic deviance, paranoia, psychasthenia, schizophrenia, and social introversion were higher in patients with CIU compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The mean score of hysteria was significantly higher in women. There were no significant correlations between the scores of MMPI and duration of the disease. These data indicate that our patients with CIU seem to have more depressive, hysteric, touchy and suspicious personality traits with hypochondriac tendencies and in more conflict with their social environment. Attitudes such as perfectionism, need for approval, external control and need to be loved were also characteristics of the patient group. We believe that psychological status should be considered for effective management of patients with CIU.

Most of the patients with asthma or COPD prefer alternative medicine. CAM use by patients with COPD should be asked about by their doctors, strongly advised about continuing their medicines and about side effects of CAM.

Background: There has been no documented data regarding the cost of asthma in our country. Objective: In this 1-year prospective study, we aimed to determine the annual cost of asthma in Ankara, Turkey. Methods: Direct medical cost analysis was performed in 118 patients. Results: Mean annual direct medical costs of asthma were USD 1,465.7 ± 111.8 per capita. Medication cost comprised the majority (81%) of the total direct cost. Mean direct medical costs according to the stage of disease were USD 172.5 ± 51.7, 860.7 ± 70.2, 1,671.6 ± 141.8 and 3,491.9 ± 417.6 for stage 1 (n = 4), 2 (n = 54), 3 (n = 46) and 4 (n = 14) patients, respectively. Conclusions: In this first study to document the cost of asthma for our region, direct cost of asthma was found to be increased with the severity of the illness. Considering the fact that medication cost comprises the major fraction of the direct cost, cost-effectiveness trials to determine the effective treatment with optimal cost for different asthma stages should be the next step.

This cross-sectional survey showed that AERD is highly prevalent among adult asthmatics and its prevalence seems to be affected by family history of ASA hypersensitivity, history of rhinosinusitis and presence of NP.