چکیده (انگلیسی):

Background: Total nasal symptom score is widely used to evaluate the severity of allergic rhinitis, but the
clinical significance of extranasal symptoms is largely unknown. We wished to analyze the presenting
symptoms in allergic rhinitis, as well as their relationship with quality of life (QoL) and therapeutic
outcomes.
Methods: Presenting symptoms and QoL were assessed using the OptumTM SF-12v2® Health Survey in
260 patients with allergic rhinitis. Clinical response at 3 months after treatment was measured.
Results: Ten most common symptoms presenting with at least moderate severity in allergic rhinitis
were: blocked nose (82.7%), rhinorrhea (75.0%), sneeze (70.9%), itchy nose (68.5%), fatigue (63.6%), mouth
breathing (61.1%), daytime somnolence (52.7%), postnasal drip (49.1%), itchy eyes (47.3%), and dry mouth
(46.3%). Severity of sneeze was correlated with physical component summary (PCS) whereas postnasal
drip and daytime somnolence were correlated with mental component summary (MCS). Severity of dry
mouth was correlated with PCS and MCS. The symptoms with the highest severity scores after treatment
were blocked nose, postnasal drip, fatigue, and dry mouth, respectively.
Conclusions: Extranasal symptom scores correlated well with physical health and mental health in
allergic rhinitis patients. Assessment of extranasal symptoms should be included to evaluate disease
severity and assess therapeutic outcomes. Clinical trial NCT02000648, http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.