Published ahead of print on November 21, 2002, doi:10.1164/rccm.200208-851OC Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Volume 167, Number 4, February 2003, 538-543 A more recent version of this article appeared on February 15, 2003
Submitted on August 12, 2002 Rhinitis is associated with increased systolic blood pressure in men: a population-based studySabine Kony1,1 Unit 408 Respiratory Diseases Epidemiology, National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Paris, France, 2 Unit 408 Respiratory Diseases Epidemiology, National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Paris, France; Unit 258 Cardiovascular Epidemiology, National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Villejuif, France, 3 Respiratory Diseases Department, Pneumo-Allergology Service, Sainte-Marguerite Teaching Hospital, Marseille, France * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: zureik{at}vjf.inserm.fr.
An association between impaired lower respiratory function and cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, is often reported but it is unknown whether there is a relationship between upper airway disorders and cardiovascular risk factors, despite evidence that upper and lower respiratory tract disorders are closely linked. Our purpose was to assess whether rhinitis is associated with arterial blood pressure and hypertension. In a population-based study of 330 adults aged 28-56 years, as part of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey, rhinitis was assessed by means of a questionnaire, and cardiovascular data, obtained by means of a questionnaire and by measuring blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was higher in rhinitic men than in non-rhinitic men (130.6±12.7 mm Hg versus 123.5±13.9 mm Hg; p=0.002), and it was still the case after adjustment for cardiovascular and respiratory confounding factors. Hypertension was more frequent in rhinitic men than in non-rhinitic ones, even after multivariate adjustment (Odds Ratio=2.6, 95%CI=[1.14-5.91]). The observation of SBP levels according to whether men have no rhinitis, seasonal or perennial rhinitis was compatible with a dose-response relationship (p for trend=0.02). In conclusion, rhinitis is strongly associated with SBP and hypertension in men. Blood pressure should be regularly checked in rhinitic subjects. Key words: rhinitis, blood pressure, hypertension
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