Allergic rhinitis and secondhand tobacco smoke: a population-based study

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Allergology
• Public Health

Background:

• Allergic rhinitis (AR) affects about 20% of the U.S. population.
• Limited research exists on the link between secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure and AR symptom severity.
• This study investigates the association between SHS and AR in adult nonsmokers within a community setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure and allergic rhinitis (AR).
• To determine if SHS exposure impacts AR symptom severity and quality of life in adult nonsmokers.

Main Methods:

• A community-based study in Washington County, Maryland, recruited 83 AR subjects and 117 nonallergic controls.
• Validated questionnaires assessed past and present SHS exposure and disease-specific quality of life.
• Statistical analyses compared SHS exposure levels and symptom reporting between allergic and nonallergic groups.

Main Results:

• 34% of allergic rhinitis subjects reported SHS exposure.
• AR subjects with SHS exposure were more likely to have a family history of chronic sinusitis (p=0.04) and use nasal decongestants (p=0.012).
• A borderline association was found between SHS exposure and more severe nasal obstruction (p=0.14) and nasal drainage (p=0.08). Allergic subjects reported significantly longer current (1.6 hrs/wk) and past (2.9 hrs/wk) SHS exposure compared to nonallergic subjects.

Conclusions:

• Past and current secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure may be a significant risk factor for developing allergic rhinitis (AR).
• Allergic individuals exposed to SHS reported increased use of nasal decongestants.
• SHS-exposed allergic subjects were more likely to experience severe nasal symptoms like obstruction and drainage compared to non-exposed allergic individuals.