Rhinosinusitis-related quality of life during pregnancy

Background: Pregnancy rhinitis manifests as nasal congestion, with resolution of symptoms after delivery. Eighteen to 30% of pregnant patients report symptoms of rhinitis. Pregnancy rhinitis may have an adverse effect on quality of life (QOL) and may cause obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which in turn may adversely affect the outcome of pregnancy. Previous examinations of the prevalence of pregnancy rhinitis during different stages of pregnancy have been inconclusive. This study aimed to determine rhinosinusitis-specific QOL during different stages of pregnancy. Methods: A cross-sectional observation study of patients in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy using the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) was conducted in the obstetric clinic at McGill University Health Center in Montreal, Canada. Seventy-six low-risk pregnant patients were included in the study. Thirty-two patients were in the second trimester of pregnancy and 44 patients were in the third trimester. Results: Average item scores for the entire questionnaire were significantly higher (p = 0.041), indicating more severe impairment of QOL, in the third trimester in comparison with the second trimester. A comparison between women with and without preexisting allergic rhinitis, in both the second and the third trimesters, shows significantly higher SNOT-22 scores for the allergic group (p = 0.007). QOL was lower in the third trimester than in nonrhinosinusitis patients (p = 0.011). Conclusion: Rhinosinusitis-specific QOL is lower in the third trimester of pregnancy in comparison with the second trimester and also in comparison with nonrhinosinusitis patients. Increased awareness may enhance the QOL of pregnant patients, prevent OSA, and thereby positively influence the outcome of pregnancy. (Am J Rhinol Allergy 26, 283-286, 2012; doi: 10.2500/ajra.2012.26.3776)