The place of spirometry in the diagnosis of asthma in those suffering from allergic rhinitis: a pilot study

The diagnosis of asthma using a self‐questionnaire in those suffering from allergic rhinitis: a pharmaco‐epidemiological survey in everyday practice in France

“…The patients then filled out the Venables et al. (7) self‐questionnaire described in detail elsewhere (6, 7). This questionnaire includes nine questions which assess the last 4 weeks for the presence or absence of asthma symptoms (cough, wheeze, chest tightness, difficulty with breathing) at different periods of time and in different situations all known to be relevant to asthma (e.g.…”

“…We were not convinced by the literature indicating that pulmonary function tests in the diagnosis of asthma were mandatory and validated in allergic rhinitis patients. We therefore designed a pilot study and the results suggested that a self‐questionnaire was capable of discriminating asthmatics from nonasthmatics in rhinitic patients with no prior diagnosis of asthma and that pulmonary function tests did not add much (6). Having set a validated and easy‐to‐use screening tool, we then designed two large surveys in GPs and ENTs in order to evaluate the prevalence of asthma using this self‐questionnaire in a population of about 12 000 rhinitics, known and treated for their rhinitis but again with no prior diagnosis of asthma.…”

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008*

“…general practitioners and ENT doctors do not have the necessary equipment to measure pulmonary function. It is possible to use structured questionnaires (2077) to make a relatively precise diagnosis of asthma in adolescents and adults. However, if a patient has a past history of severe asthma and/or signs of uncontrolled asthma, pulmonary function tests are needed.…”

Effect of Nasal Allergy Over Spirometric Parameters: A Prospective Study

“…Even though there is no direct parameter capable of assessing small airways, it has been assumed that the forced expiratory flow at the 25 and 75 % of the pulmonary volume (FEF ) might be considered as a measure of the caliber concerning distal airways [3]. Particularly, subjects with mild asthma and normal FEV 1, may show impaired FEF only [12,19].…”