Patients who suffer from both allergic rhinitis and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may experience escalated symptoms of stress and fatigue.
In a paper presented at the 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) annual meeting, researchers told of results of 34 people who were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, but who also had allergic rhinitis.
Among them, 12 people were classified in the allergic rhinitis group and 22 people were in the control group.
The researchers evaluated Body Mass Index (BMI), Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI), Respiratory effort related arousals (RERA), Lowest Oxygen Saturation (LSAT), Rhino-conjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), stress score, fatigue score, and ability to cope, with questionnaires of both groups, then statistically compared mean scores of both groups.
Allergic rhinitis is well known for increasing patients’ daytime somnolence, fatigue, and decreasing cognitive performance, as does OSA. There have not been previous studies that showed the result if both diseases co-exist.
Mean fatigue scores were 38.8 and 29.9 each, which were significantly higher in the allergic rhinitis group. That group showed higher stress scores, decreased ability to cope, and higher mean ESS, but they were not significant.
The authors note that their findings should highlight that patients who have both allergic rhinitis and obstructive sleep apnea might need more careful management and multiple therapeutic options to help relieve their symptoms.
Individuals with either allergic rhinitis or OSA should also be evaluated for the other condition to ensure appropriate care.
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/Sleep News — Research/rhinitis-apnea-patients-often-have-stress-fatigue/2009-10-07.1651
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