In this study we evaluated how the quality of life in subjects with asthma was affected by a history of non-infectious rhinitis. The study comprised 180 persons with asthma and 156 controls, who answered the Short Form 36 quality of life questionnaire. Both the asthma subjects and the controls were stratified according to a history of non-infectious rhinitis (NIR). The global physical quality of life score (PCS) was significantly lower for all the asthma subjects regardless of their previous history of NIR compared to controls (NIR positive asthma, -8, p=O,001, NIR negative asthma, -9, p=0, 001). The subjects with asthma and a positive history of NIR obtained significantly lower scores for their global mental quality of life (MCS) than the controls (46 vs 51, p=0.004). The subjects with asthma and a negative history of NIR obtained MCS scores that were similar to those of the controls (50 and 51, p=0.9). In this population based study, the physical Qol of the subjects with asthma was lower regardless of a previous history of NIR compared to controls. A positive history of NIR in asthma was however associated with a poorer mental Qol.