Relationship between rhinitis duration and worsening of nasal function

BACKGROUND: While it is well known that asthma is characterized by airway remodeling, few studies instead have investigated this issue in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate nasal function, ie, nasal airflow, in a cohort of patients with persistent AR (PER). METHODS: One hundred patients, 50 with short-term and 50 with long-term PER, were prospectively and consecutively evaluated, clinically evaluated by visit, skin prick test, and rhinomanometry. RESULTS: Nasal airflow values were significantly lower (median flow: 348 mL/sec) in patients with long-term rhinitis (median duration nine years) as compared to patients with short-term (median duration one year) rhinitis (median flow: 466 mL/sec) (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study provides the first evidence that patients with PER may show a progressive worsening of nasal airflow depending on the duration of the disorder.