Relationship of airway sensory hyperreactivity to asthma and psychiatric morbidity.

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Relationship of airway sensory hyperreactivity to asthma and

psychiatric morbidity.

Johansson A, Millqvist E, Bende M. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2010

Jul;105(1):20-3.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Central Hospital,

Skövde, Sweden.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients with airway symptoms induced by chemicals and odors

are common in allergy clinics, but the problems cannot be explained by allergic

or asthmatic reactions. Previous studies have shown that these patients often

have increased sensitivity to inhaled capsaicin, which is known to reflect

sensory reactivity; a diagnosis of airway sensory hyperreactivity (SHR) has been

suggested for this condition.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between asthma and SHR and to

investigate whether patients with SHR show signs of increased psychiatric

morbidity.

METHODS: This study included 724 patients who were attending an allergy

center because of suspected allergy or asthma. All the patients completed a

quantitative questionnaire on self-reported affective reactions and behavioral

disruptions caused by odorous/pungent substances. A standardized capsaicin

inhalation test was performed and a questionnaire to assess psychiatric

morbidity was administered in patients with pronounced chemical sensitivity to

identify those with SHR.

RESULTS: The prevalence of SHR was approximately 6% in asthmatic patients

in the allergy center population, which is in accordance with the prevalence in

a general population. There was no significant indication that SHR was related

to either depression or anxiety.

CONCLUSION: There is no strong relationship between SHR and either

asthma or psychiatric morbidity.

PMID: 20642199 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]