Zheng M, et al. – The prevalence and influence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and non–allergic rhinitis (NAR) on the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were examined in this study. In spite of a comparatively high prevalence in patients with OSA, the presence or severity of AR or NAR did not affect the severity of OSA. The findings suggested that rhinitis could significantly interrupt sleep in patients with OSA.

Methods

• Using validated questionnaires and skin prick tests, 240 patients with OSA confirmed by standardized polysomnography were evaluated for presence of AR and NAR.
• Information correlation was completed by utilizing chi-square test, analysis of variance, and least significant difference test.
• Relationship between severity of OSA and rhinitis, age, sex, and body mass index were surveyed with ordinal logistic regression analysis.

Results

• Researchers reported that the prevalence of AR and NAR among patients with OSA was 27.1% and 28.7%, respectively, with no significant differences in the severity of rhinitis.
• Ordinal logistic regression analysis indicated AR and NAR were not the risk factors for severity of OSA.
• Significant differences of polysomnography parameters in sleep efficiency (79.7 ± 2.0 versus 85.2 ± 1.4 between AR and NAR; 79.7 ± 2.0 versus 87.2 ± 1.4 between AR and no-rhinitis) and arousal index (36.8 ± 4.1 versus 24.7 ± 3.5 between AR and no-rhinitis) were found.
• It was observed in the findings that patients with NAR had lower average arterial oxygen saturation (91.9 ± 0.6 versus 94.0 ± 0.6) and minimal arterial oxygen saturation (70.6 ± 1.7 versus 77.3 ± 1.8), compared with subjects categorized as no-rhinitis.