1. Introduction Background : Asthma is a common chronic airway disorder characterized by periods of reversible airflow obstruction known as asthma attack. Symptoms are caused by inflammation and narrowing of small airways and may include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing and chest pain. Allergic rhinitis is characterized by paroxysms of sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, itching of eyes, nose and palate. It is a common trigger for asthma exacerbations. Asthma prevalence has increased from 7.3 % in 2001 to 8.4 % in 2010. In 2010, 18.7 million (1 in 12) adults had asthma (ref. #1). Females had higher asthma prevalence than males (9.2% compared to 7.0 %)(ref. #1). According to CDC's 2009-2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, asthma prevalence was higher among obese (11.6%) than non-obese (7.3%) adults (ref. #2). In 2009, nearly 66.7 % of adults in Texas were either overweight or obese (BMI>25, ref. #2). In 2011, 30.4% Texas adults were obese (BMI>30). Objective: We conducted this study to characterize epidemiological data of adult patients visiting UTMB asthma/allergy clinics. Our study includes quantitative analysis based on age, gender, diagnosis, BMI, skin test results and disease severity. Report of epidemiologic characteristics of asthma and allergic rhinitis in adults visiting UTMB allergy/asthma clinics Durga Deshpande 1, Rana Bonds 2, Terumi Midoro 3 1 MBBS, PGY-3 at UTMB-Galveston, 2 MD, Assi. Prof. at UTMB, 3 PhD, Asso. Prof. at UTMB Abstract Background: Asthma is a common chronic airway disorder and allergic rhinitis is a common trigger for asthma exacerbations. Asthma prevalence has increased from 7.3 % in 2001 to 8.4 % in 2010. Females had higher asthma prevalence than males (9.2% compared to 7.0 %). Asthma prevalence was also higher among obese (11.6%) than non- obese (7.3%) adults nationwide. In 2009, nearly 66.7 % of adults in Texas were either overweight or obese. Objective : We conducted this study to characterize epidemiological data of adults visiting UTMB asthma/allergy clinics. Our study includes quantitative analysis based on age, gender, diagnosis, BMI, skin test results and disease severity. Methods: We conducted retrospective electronic medical record review of 276 adults visiting UTMB allergy/asthma clinics. These encounters included physician visits as well as nurse visits for allergy shots. Results & Conclusion : More than 75 % of patients visiting asthma/allergy clinic at UTMB were overweight/obese (BMI>25). Association of obesity and asthma has been well studied in literature. Hence, weight management counseling during asthma/allergy clinic visits would be beneficial. Study population was most commonly seen to be allergic to dust mites. Females were more likely to have asthma as compared to males. This finding is comparable to nationwide data published by CDC. There is a mounting evidence in literature which suggests that increased asthma prevalence in females could be in part related to female sex steroid hormones. This needs to be explored in future studies. Percentage of patients with positive skin prick test to different categories of allergens Study population was most commonly allergic to environmental allergens. More than half of adults with positive skin prick test were allergic to dust mite. Gender distribution of asthma patients Diagnosis of asthma was more common among females than males (male: female = 1:2.7). Age distribution of asthma patients Diagnosis of asthma was most commonly seen in age group > 55 years. Distribution of asthma severity 46% of study population was diagnosed with asthma. Intermittent and severe asthma was most and least commonly seen. In EMR, 25% of patients had asthma which was not categorized based on severity. Combined gender/age and asthma severity distribution Females were more likely to be diagnosed with asthma irrespective of age group and asthma severity. Exception was seen among patients with in moderate asthma aged 26-45 years. However, 25% of patients diagnosed with asthma remained uncategorized in EMR which may change the asthma severity distribution. Methods We conducted retrospective chart review of 276 adult patients visiting UTMB allergy/asthma specialty clinics. Clinical encounters including physician visits as well as nurse visits for allergy shots have been studied. We have used UTMB’s electronic medical records (EMR) for obtaining the desired data. Use of EMR for our study has been approved by the institutional review board at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Conclusions More than 75% of patients visiting asthma/allergy clinic at UTMB were overweight/obese. Association of obesity and asthma has been well studied in several previously published studies. Hence, weight management counseling may benefit the patients and should be part of each asthma/allergy clinic visits. Patients were most commonly seen to be allergic to dust mites. Emphasizing use of dust mite protection cover would benefit these patients. Females were more likely to have asthma as compared to males. This finding is comparable to nationwide data published by CDC.( Male: Female asthma occurrence ratio is 2.7 in present study compared to 1.3 in US). There is a mounting evidence in literature which suggests that increased asthma prevalence in females could be in part related to female sex steroid hormones (ref. #3). This needs to be explored in future studies. References 2012 Texas Pediatric Society Electronic Poster Contest Combined gender/age distribution of study population Majority of patient population visiting UTMB adult asthma/allergy clinics was >55 years of age irrespective of gender. Percentage distribution of patient population under study based on their BMI 77% of total population was overweight/obese. In 2009 CDC report, nearly 66.7% adults in Texas were overweight/obese. No major gender difference has been seen in overweight patient population under study. This data is comparable to CDC data. Percentage of total patients under study diagnosed with asthma and allergic rhinitis. Combined diagnosis of asthma and allergic was more commonly seen compared to isolated diagnosis or asthma or allergic rhinitis. Percentage of skin prick test results Half of adults visiting UTMB allergy/asthma clinics underwent skin prick test. Results 1.National Surveillance of Asthma: United States, 2001–2010 published by CDC 2.2009 Texas Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System, Center for Health Statistics, Department of State Health Services 3. Bonds RS, Midoro-Horiuti T., Estrogen effects in allergy and asthma, Curr. Opin. Allergy Clin.Immunol., Vol. 13(1), pg. 92-9, 2013. 4.Zahran HS, Bailey C, Factors associated with asthma prevalence among racial and ethnic groups-United States, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2009-2010.