Prevalence of allergic rhinitis and its impact on academic performance and quality of life among medical students in the Delta region: a cross-sectional study

Background Epidemiological studies report a rising prevalence of allergic rhinitis, currently affecting an estimated 600 million individuals worldwide. This study aims to assess the impact of allergic rhinitis on the academic performance and quality of life of medical students in the Delta Region. Methodology A cross-sectional study targeted medical students in the Delta Region; a total of 416 students were included. The questionnaire included questions on socio-demographic characteristics, academic year and GPA, Score for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR), Rhino-sinusitis Disability Index (RSDI) and Academic Performance Scale (APS). Results In the present study, we analyzed responses from 460 medical students from universities in the Delta region. According to the SFAR criteria, a score of ≥ 7 indicates a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. Based on this cutoff, 51 (11.1%) of the participants were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis. The subsequent analyses were conducted on these diagnosed participants. Among the diagnosed students, 25 (49.0%) reported that their class attendance was affected, and 36 (72.0%) of the participants felt that AR hurt their overall academic performance. Conclusion The study demonstrated that allergic rhinitis harms both academic performance and quality of life; There is a need for implementing comprehensive management strategies to minimize its impact.