A EUFOREA comment on a lost comorbidity of asthma

Epidemiology of comorbidities and their association with asthma control (Tomisa, G., Horvath, A., Santa, B. et al. Epidemiology of comorbidities and their association with asthma control. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol 17, 95 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13223-021-00598-3) is an interesting paper reflecting data collection from more than 12,000 asthmatic patients in Hungary regarding their condition and associated comorbidities. We found it valuable that the paper provides an overview of asthma comorbidities not usually considered in similar reports. Nevertheless, we believe that chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with or without nasal polyps (CRSwNP or CRSsNP) should have been listed due to its high incidence and prevalence, its association with asthma which is also endorsed in both GINA and EPOS, as well as in several peer-reviewed scientific papers, and to reflect the role of this comorbidity in poor control and a most severe presentation of asthma for the patient. Consequently, several targeted therapies (especially monoclonal antibodies) used for several years in severe forms of asthma are now indicated also for the effective treatment of nasal polyps.

Automated summary

This paper examines the epidemiology of comorbidities in asthmatic patients, focusing on the relevance of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with or without nasal polyps (CRSwNP or CRSsNP) as an important comorbidity that is often overlooked. The authors argue that CRS should have been included in the analysis due to its high incidence, its association with asthma, and the impact it has on asthma control and severity. They suggest that targeted therapies used for severe asthma may also be effective for the treatment of nasal polyps.