Association between allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps, chronic sinusitis and chronic respiratory diseases: a mendelian randomization study

Ren, F., Zhang, L., Zhao, D. et al. BMC Pulm Med 25, 109 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03523-1

Abstract

Background

Schematic representation of Mendelian randomization on the
relationship between nasal disease and chronic respiratory diseases

Epidemiological investigations provide considerable evidence supporting the coexistence of upper airway ailments with lower airway disorders, but the association between common nasal diseases, such as allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, and chronic respiratory conditions require further exploration.

Methods

In this study, a two-sample mendelian randomization was employed to explore the potential association between allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps, and chronic sinusitis with various chronic respiratory diseases.

For the primary analysis, summary statistics related to chronic respiratory diseases were obtained from the UK Biobank of European ancestry. To externally validate the results, summary statistics related to chronic respiratory diseases were sourced from the FinnGen R10 database. The analysis incorporated various methodologies, including the inverse variance weighted method, the MR Egger method, and the weighted median method. Sensitivity analysis encompassed Cochran ‘s Q test, MR-Egger intercept tests, leave-one-out analyses, and the construction of funnel plots.

Results

Allergic rhinitis was significantly associated with asthma (UKB database, OR 1.082, 95% CI 1.072–1.0924, P < 0.001; FinnGen database, OR 1.382, 95% CI 1.305–1.462, P < 0.001), COPD (UKB database, OR 1.003, 95% CI 1.001–1.006, P = 0.020; FinnGen database, OR 1.102, 95% CI 1.037–1.172, P = 0.002), ILD (UKB database, OR 1.013, 95% CI 1.010–1.017, P < 0.001; FinnGen database, OR 1.152, 95% CI 1.035–1.283, P = 0.010). Nasal polyps were potentially related to the increased risks of COPD (UKB database, OR 1.003, 95% CI 1.001–1.004, P < 0.001; FinnGen database, OR 1.092, 95% CI 1.050–1.136, P < 0.001) and bronchiectasis (UKB database, OR 1.000, 95% CI 1.000–1.001, P = 0.036; FinnGen database, OR 1.109, 95% CI 1.022–1.203, P = 0.013).

Conclusions

This study indicates a potential relationship between allergic rhinitis and respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and interstitial lung disease (ILD). Additionally, the presence of nasal polyps appears to be correlated with an increased prevalence of COPD and bronchiectasis.

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