Relationship between aeroallergen sensitization pattern and clinical features in adult asthmatics

Asthma can be classified into atopic and non-atopic phenotypes. However, limited data are available on the clinical implications of these two phenotypes in real life.

This study aimed to examine the clinical features as well as control level and disease severity of asthmatic patients with their aeroallergen sensitivity profiles.

Between 2013 and 2020, adult asthmatic patients who had been followed up regularly at our tertiary healthcare institution for at least one year were included in the study. We collected data retrospectively using manually filled patient files.

The mean age of 382 asthmatic patients was 46.6 ± 30.0; 77.5% were women and 75.6% had at least one aeroallergen sensitivity. Polysensitized asthmatics had better asthma symptom control and milder asthma severity than monosensitized asthmatics. Asthma symptom control status was well controlled in 67.5% of the patients, and according to asthma severity, 51.3% of the patients were classified as having moderate asthma. There was a negative relation between age (OR:0.95, CI:0.92-0.98) and atopy presence. The presence of atopy was higher in moderate asthmatics than in mild asthmatics (OR:2.02, CI:1.01-4.09). Finally, there was a positive relationship between the percent predicted forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV₁%) (OR:1.02, CI:1.009-1.048) and the presence of atopy. The presence of rhinitis (OR:0.44, CI:0.22-0.88) and per 1 unit increase of Tiffeneau index (FEV₁/forced vital capacity) (OR:0.94, CI:0.90-0.99) had a negative association, whereas number of medication use for asthma symptoms (OR:1.68, CI:1.18-2.39) and presence of cardiovasculary disease (OR:2.64, CI:1.19-5.84) had a positive association with not well-controlled asthma symptom level.

Aeroallergen sensitivity was associated with asthma severity. However, this was not the case with asthma control levels in this adult asthma cohort. Among the atopic asthmatics polysensitized asthmatics had better asthma symptom control level and milder asthma severity level.