Table 4.
Items included in the questionnaire and results
| Mean | Median | Interquartile range | Above the median | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | ARD is characterized as an inflammatory process with a characteristic Th2-mediated response profile | 8.08 | 8 | 1.5 | 5 | Agreement |
| 18 | ARD is characterized by inflammation of both the upper and the lower respiratory tract, which may be of different intensity | 8.35 | 8.5 | 1 | 0 | Agreement |
| 19 | Bronchial hyperresponsiveness is observed in more than one-third of ARD patients who have clinical manifestations in the upper airway | 8.13 | 8 | 1 | 2.5 | Agreement |
| 20 | Although no single mechanism fully explains rhinitis-asthma inter-relationships, systemic spread of allergic inflammatory mediators is the most widely accepted pathway | 6.55 | 7 | 1 | 30 | Agreement |
| 21 | Functional impairment of the bronchial epithelium leads to increased susceptibility to infections and facilitates new allergic sensitizations in ARD patients | 7.45 | 8 | 2 | 17.5 | Agreement |
| 22 | The underlying pathophysiological changes are present all year long in ARD patients with only seasonal clinical manifestations, as a result of infections or exposure to environmental irritants | 7.5 | 8 | 1 | 20 | Agreement |
| 23 | Respiratory infections are usually more severe and last longer in ARD patients | 7.05 | 8 | 1 | 22.5 | Agreement |
| 24 | Clinical manifestations are determined mainly by environmental factors but also by genetic factors | 6.7 | 7 | 3 | 30 | Agreement |
| 25 | The presence and persistence of allergens account for the characteristics of clinical manifestations in ARD patients | 7.15 | 7 | 1 | 22.5 | Agreement |
| 26 | Allergen characteristics and type of exposure can partially determine whether rhinoconjunctivitis precedes asthma or both entities develop simultaneously | 7.1 | 7 | 1 | 17.5 | Agreement |
| 27 | Some allergens induce symptoms more frequently in the upper airway than in the lower airway | 7.5 | 8 | 2 | 17.5 | Agreement |
| 28 | Some airborne allergens are related to more severe forms of asthma | 7.98 | 8.5 | 2 | 12.5 | Agreement |
| 29 | In ARD patients, some allergens can cause worse quality of life than others owing to the characteristics of their exposure | 7.85 | 8 | 2 | 10 | Agreement |
Pathophysiology and Etiology