PODCAST 1: COMORBIDITIES AND DIAGNOSIS - CMEcorner.com

Continuing Education activity from symposium presented at the
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners 22 nd National Conference June 20-24, 2007
PODCAST 1: COMORBIDITIES AND DIAGNOSIS
Supported by an educational grant from
Sponsored by the
American Academy of
Nurse Practitioners
Coordinated by
Medical Communications
Media, Inc.
Podcast/MP3 Instructions
1. Download the podcast or MP3 audio file to your player.
2. Listen to the presentation. This program will take about 27 minutes to complete.
3. To receive continuing education credit, use the link to the online test and evaluation.
4. Follow the provided instructions to complete and submit the continuing education posttest
and evaluation form.

PODCAST 1: COMORBIDITIES AND DIAGNOSIS
Program Overview
Up to 40% of Americans suffer from some form of allergic rhinitis, a syndrome often characterized by a
collection of symptoms that include sneezing, nasal congestion, nasal itching, and rhinorrhea. When poorly
controlled, the condition is often associated with other comorbidities, such as asthma and sinusitis. Allergic
rhinitis and its comorbidities significantly affect the quality of life in those affected by restricting the patient's
daily activities. This results in a decrease in performance and productivity while at school or work and an
increase in absenteeism. In this presentation, faculty discusses the impact that allergic rhinitis and its
comorbidities have on patients' health and well-being. Because accurate diagnosis of rhinitis directs treatment,
the patient history and physical examination also are reviewed.
Target Audience
This program is designed for nurse practitioners caring for patients with allergic rhinitis.
Program Learning Objectives
At the end of this program, the participant should be able to:
1. Discuss the prevalence of allergic rhinitis.
2. Describe the quality of life issues associated with rhinitis in children and adults.
3. Identify the classic symptoms of rhinitis.
4. Describe the key areas of the history and physical exam when working up a patient with possible
allergic rhinitis.
Accreditation Statement
This program is approved for .5 contact hour of continuing education by the American Academy of Nurse
Practitioners. Program ID #: 0709436.
Release Date: 11/1/07 • Expiration Date: 11/1/08
© 2007 American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Disclaimer
None of the contents may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. The opinions expressed in this activity are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or
recommendations of their affiliated institutions, the publisher, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, or Schering Plough. Any medications or other diagnostic or treatment procedures discussed by the program
speakers should not be utilized by clinicians without evaluation of their patients’ conditions and possible contraindications or risks, and without a review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information and
comparison with the recommendations of other authorities.

Faculty
Todd A. Mahr, MD
Director, Pediatric Allergy • Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center
Clinical Professor • Department of Pediatrics • University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
Dr. Mahr is a clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School
of Medicine and Public Health. He also serves as Director of Pediatric Allergy at the Gundersen
Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin. A published author of numerous peer-reviewed
articles and book chapters, Mahr lectures nationally and internationally on various allergy related
topics. He is board certified in pediatrics and allergy/immunology.
Mary Lou Hayden, RN, MS, FNP-C, AE-C
Clinical Assistant Professor • University of Virginia • Asthma and Allergy Nurse Practitioner
Virginia Adult and Pediatric Allergy and Asthma • Richmond, Virginia
Mary Lou Hayden has been a nurse practitioner in asthma and allergy for 25 years. A member of the
American Academy of Allergy and Immunology, she co-chaired the Allied Health Committee and the
Research Subcommittee and received the 2004 Allied Health Recognition Award. She is also active in
the Allied Health Program of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. A certified
asthma educator, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Asthma Educators. She is
a frequent speaker on the topics of allergic rhinitis ·and asthma and has authored numerous articles for
patients and health care professionals. Mary Lou earned her Bachelors in Nursing from Stanford and
her Masters from the University of Rochester, School of Nursing.
AANP Disclosure Statement and Faculty Disclosures
It is AANP's goal to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all its educational activities. To meet this goal, both
real and/or potential conflicts of interest must be considered during the development of a continuing educational activity. All individuals
having control over the development of an activity’s content and all faculties participating in AANP programs are expected to disclose
any relationships they may have with commercial companies whose products or services may be mentioned. Potential learners will be
informed of all disclosed relationships. The following are all disclosures for this CE program:
Mary Lou Hayden, RN, MS, FNP, APRN, AE-C discloses that she is a member of speakers' bureaus for Schering-Plough, Genentech,
and AstraZeneca, and advisory committees for Genentech, sanofi-aventis, and AstraZeneca.
Todd A. Mahr, MD discloses that he has received honoraria, consultant fees, and research support, and is a member of speakers' bureaus
for GlaxoSmithKline, Alcon Laboratories, Genentech, Merck, Novartis, Schering-Plough, sanofi-aventis, and Verus Pharmaceuticals.
Disclosure of Unlabeled Use
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
The FDA may not have approved some uses of these agents. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for
discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

PODCAST 1: COMORBIDITIES AND DIAGNOSIS
To receive CE credit, an online post-test and evaluation must be completed. If you successfully answer at least 70%
of these items online, you will be able to print a certificate. The test is located at www.aanp.org/testingcenter.
The following copy of the Post-Test is provided ONLY as a convenience and to help in preparation for
the post-test. Credit will ONLY be awarded for tests completed online.
Post-Test
1. The third National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey (NHANES-3) showed that
over _____of those surveyed tested positive for
at least one airborne allergen.
a. 10% b. 30% c. 50% d. 60%
2. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis among children is
up to ____.
a. 10% b. 20% c. 30% d. 40%
3. All of the following are consequences of
allergies except:
a. Restricted activity participation
b. Daytime sleepiness
c. Diminished school/work performance
d. Decreased appetite
4. According to the Allergies in America survey, which
of the following symptoms is most bothersome to
patients with allergic rhinitis
a. Itchy eyes
b. Nasal congestion
c. Runny nose
d. Sneezing
5. Which of the following comorbidities is present in
more than 50% of children with allergic rhinitis
a. Recurrent sinusitis
b. Asthma
c. Migraines
d. Otitis media
6. Which of the following is the major mediator of
allergic rhinitis
a. Proteases
b. Bradykinin
c. Histamine
d. Prostaglandins
7. Which of the following is not a cause of vasomotor
rhinitis
a. Viral respiratory infection
b. Topical (nasal) decongestants
c. Dust mites
d. Pregnancy
8. At least ______ of patients with allergic rhinitis have
non-allergic triggers
a. 25%
b. 50%
c. 75%
d. None of the above
9. Which of the following historical information is
helpful in diagnosing allergic rhinitis
a. Family history of allergic rhinitis
b. History of hypertension
c. A and B
d. None of the above
10. Which of the following is helpful in determining if a
patient has allergic rhinitis
a. Allergy skin test
b. RAST test
c. Nasal cytology
d. All of the above