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Background

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a well-known marker of type-2 inflammation. FeNO is elevated in asthma and allergic rhinitis, with IgE sensitisation as a major determinant.

Objective

We aimed to see if there was an independent association between upper airway inflammatory disorders (UAID) and FeNO, after adjustment for asthma and sensitisation, in a multi-centre population-based study.

Methods

A total of 741 subjects with current asthma and 4,155 non-asthmatic subjects participating in the second follow-up of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS III) underwent FeNO measurements. Sensitisation status was based on measurement of IgE against airborne allergens; information on asthma, UAID and medication was collected through interview-led questionnaires. Independent associations between UAID and FeNO was assessed in adjusted multivariate regression models and test for interaction with perennial sensitisation and asthma on the relation between UAID and FeNO were made.

Results

UAID were associated with higher FeNO after adjusting for perennial sensitisation, asthma and other confounders: with 4.4 (0.9?7.9) % higher FeNO in relation to current rhinitis and 4.8 (0.7?9.2)% higher FeNO in relation to rhinoconjunctivitis. A significant interaction with perennial sensitisation was found in the relationship between current rhinitis and FeNO (p=0.03) and between rhinoconjunctivitis and FeNO (p=0.03). After stratification by asthma and perennial sensitisation, the association between current rhinitis and FeNO remained in non-asthmatic subjects with perennial sensitisation, with 12.1 (0.2?25.5) % higher FeNO in subjects with current rhinitis than in those without.

Conclusions & Clinical Relevance

Current rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis was associated with higher FeNO, with an interaction with perennial sensitisation. This further highlights the concept of united airway disease, with correlations between symptoms and inflammation in the upper and lower airways and that sensitisation needs to be accounted for in the relation between FeNO and rhinitis.