Patients with Severe Asthma Are at Risk for Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is characterized by adult-onset asthma, chronic sinusitis with nasal polyposis, and sensitivity to aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Patients with AERD often have difficult-to-control asthma, and NSAIDs can cause life-threatening reactions. The reported prevalence of AERD among adult asthma patients varies widely, from 1% to 44%, depending on the study methods.

To estimate how commonly this syndrome occurs, researchers identified 1170 articles in which the prevalence of AERD was reported. They included 27 studies in a meta-analysis; either histories or oral challenges were used to identify cases in these studies. The overall prevalence of AERD in adult asthmatic patients…