Evaluation of the effects of allergic rhinitis treatment on sexual functioning, sleep, and fatigue parameters

Study objective. - To evaluate the impact of intranasal corticosteroids on quality of life (QoL) in AR patients compared to control groups. Patients and methods. - In a prospective study, we enrolled AR subjects (18-45 years old) and healthy controls at Amiralmomenin Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, in 2014-2015. After signing informed consent, participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI), as well as the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) or the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaires. Patients were then treated with intranasal corticosteroids. After 6 weeks, the outcomes were re-evaluated. Statistical analysis of the extracted data was conducted using Stata 13.0. Results. - A total of 96 subjects (48 males and 48 females) and 96 controls participated in this study. We measured optimal control of allergic rhinitis using the CARAT (U) questionnaire. Improvement in SNOT-22 score in men and women was 14.0 and 5.2 points, respectively. Men with AR had a significantly worse sexual function score. After treatment, erectile dysfunction improved significantly. However, there was no significant difference in overall FSFI score at baseline between women with AR and controls. At baseline, 62.5% of men and 54.2% of women in the AR group reported pathologic fatigue, which with treatment fell to 22.9% and 35.4%, respectively. Conclusion. - We noted detrimental effects of allergic rhinitis on various aspects of QoL in men and women. Intranasal corticosteroids diminished these negative effects of allergic rhinitis. (C) 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.