Allergic rhinitis impairs sleep, quality of life, cognitive function, and school/workplace productivity

Rhinitis is a common chronic condition that has a substantial impact on the sufferer.

A cohort of AR sufferers and non-AR sufferers was assembled by screening a representative sample of 15,000 households with a self-administered questionnaire. A subsample of respondents received a detailed follow-up questionnaire in the May/June pollen season - 3831 met the case definition of AR sufferer; 3193 were non-AR sufferers.

AR sufferers had consistently poorer average scores on:

- sleep
- quality of life
- cognition
- productivity scales

Subjects with AR symptoms had more sleep impairment. Only 3.6% of subjects with AR symptoms experienced 100% sleep adequacy. A recent study confirmed that sleep is affected in allergic rhinitis: 53% had poor sleep quality, and 21% had excessive day somnolence (Clin Exp Allergy. 2012 Jan 18).

Work and school productivity was significantly reduced in subjects with AR. 83% of people with allergic rhinitis say the condition negatively affects their sexual activity (http://goo.gl/j91I9).

Individuals who suffer from AR symptoms experience a substantial burden on their ability to sleep, quality of life, cognitive function, and school/workplace productivity.



Treatment Options for Allergic Rhinitis and Non-Allergic Rhinitis (click to enlarge the image).

References:

Sleep, quality of life, and productivity impact of nasal symptoms in the United States: Findings from the
Burden of Rhinitis in America survey. Meltzer, Eli O.; Nathan, Robert; Derebery, Jennifer; Stang, Paul E.; Campbell, Ulka B.; Yeh, Wei-Shi; Corrao, Marlo; Stanford, Richard. Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, Volume 30, Number 3, May/June 2009 , pp. 244-254(11).
Sleep is affected in allergic rhinitis: 53% had poor sleep quality, 21% had excessive day somnolence. Clin Exp Allergy. 2012 Jan 18.

Rhinitis and sleep - congestion decreases quality of life and productivity, increases daytime sleepiness http://goo.gl/Fym3B
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Image source: Wikipedia, a Creative Commons license.