Andraia R. Li, Kathy Zhang, Priyanka D. Reddy, Shaun A. Nguyen, Amar Miglani, Jacob Fried, Mariam I. Nguyen, Rodney J. Schlosser
Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2021 Mar 27. doi: 10.1002/alr.22794. Epub ahead of print.
Rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa with itching, sneezing, rhinorrhea, and congestion. It may be classified into allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis. The ARIA (allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma) guidelines categorize allergic rhinitis upon intermittent or persistent timing of symptoms and mild, moderate or severe. The objective of this review was to assess if patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and clinical physiological measures vary, and which factors impact rhinitis.
A systematic search identified allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis that reported Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ), total nasal symptom score (TNSS), or visual analog scale (VAS) scores, and physiologic measures (peak nasal inspiratory flow and nasal airflow). The relationship between PROMs, physiologic measures, and associated factors was statistically evaluated.
The review included 171 studies, which reflected 33843 patients. Patients with allergic rhinitis had more severe symptoms than nonallergic rhinitis ones. There was no significant correlation between PROMs and demographic factors, comorbidities, or physiologic measures. Statistical analysis identified a correlation between the worse quality of life and shorter disease duration.
In conclusion, patients with rhinitis have a more severe impact in their quality of life in the presence of allergy with variable impact upon specific symptom subdomains. PROMs did not show a correlation with demographic factors, comorbidities, or physiologic measures of nasal airflow.
