ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristics and extent of lower airway inflammation in patients with chronic rhinitis, and to explore the risk factors in lower airway inflammation in rhinitis patients.MethodsFrom Jan 2007 to Dec 2012, 639 chronic rhinitis patients were collected, including 377 positive SPT and 262 negative SPT according to results of SPT. General information of all patients was collected with uniform questionnaire. Eosinophil (EOS) counts of blood, nasal lavage fluid and induced sputum, nasal secretions smear, nasal or bronchial provocation were performed. Stratified and multivariate logistic regression models were used for statistical analysis.ResultsThe total positive rate of lower airway inflammation in patients with rhinitis was 49.30%, while those in positive SPT and negative SPT were 60.48% and 33.20% respectively with a significant difference (P<0.01). The positive rates of lower airway inflammation in patients with increased and normal nasal lavage EOS counts were 70.81% and 30.50%, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). While, the positive rates of lower airway inflammation in patients were not significant correlated with the sex, smoking, blood EOS and nasal provocation.ConclusionThe predisposing factors in lower airway inflammation in rhinitis patients are positive SPT and increased EOS count in nasal lavage fluid.