Sleep disordered breathing and daytime quality of life in children with allergic rhinitis during treatment with intranasal budesonide
Received 21 March 2003; accepted 9 September 2003.
Background
Nasal obstruction is recognized as an important cause of sleep disordered breathing. Congestion of the nasal mucosa and obstruction are common symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Daytime sleepiness is a common finding in symptomatic allergic rhinitis. Effective therapy of the nasal congestion of allergic rhinitis should alter sleep patterns in patients with symptomatic allergic rhinitis.
Objective
To measure objective changes in polysomnograms (sleep studies) of children with allergic rhinitis before and after therapy with intranasal budesonide and to measure changes in the quality of life of these patients during treatment.
Methods
Open clinical trial with objective measurements (polysomnography) and subjective data (Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire [RQLQ]). Evaluations were performed before, during, and at completion of therapeutic intervention.
Results
The 14 studied children tolerated the procedures and treatment without problems. The mean number of sleep arousals per hour (all apneas and hypopneas) decreased from a baseline of 8.4 to 1.2 (P = .005) after treatment. The change was mainly in hypopneic episodes (7.5–0.9, P = .003). Objective responses on the RQLQ showed improvements consistent with improved sleep and lessened rhinitis symptoms.
Conclusions
Decreasing the nasal congestion associated with allergic rhinitis can improve sleep measured by objective sleep studies and lead to improvement in daytime quality of life.
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Western Sky Medical Research, El Paso, Texas.
Requests for reprints should be addressed to: Lyndon E. Mansfield, MD, Western Sky Medical Research, 1901 Arizona Ave, El Paso, TX 79902
This study was supported by an IRIS grant from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.
ABSTRACT