Quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis: comparative study with hypertension in primary care

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine the impact of allergic rhinitis (AR) on health-related quality of life in patients in primary care. METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study that included a national sample of patients consulting general practitioners for AR. Patients consulting for Hypertension were studied as a control sample. A general activities questionnaire, the mini Rhino conjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (mini-RQLQ) and the Medical Outcome Short-Form (SF-12) were employed. RESULTS: A total of 133 general practitioners and 1,309 patients were included, 1,093 (83.56%) patients were diagnosed as AR and 215 (16.44) as Hypertensive. Adjustments were made for age and gender. The effect of AR on daily activities was noteworthy; the impairment in activities in relationship with sport, work, driving cars and entertainment was higher in AR than in patients with hypertension, with statistical differences. Both diseases, AR and hypertension, had a moderate impact on SF-36 physical and mental summary scores, without statistical significance. Adjusted sex and age were PCS12: (AR: 54.2+/- 19.30; hypertension 57.6 +/- 22.01, p=0.075) and MCS12:(AR: 56.9+/-19.70; hypertension 58.8 +/-19.82, p=0.330), without statistical significance. Patients with AR showed an impact in all domains of mini-RQLQ and the severity of disease according mini-RQLQ score had a good correlation with the impairment of daily activities. 76.7% of patients with AR had a coexistent atopic disease (asthma, conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis) as well as a disease in relationship with rhinitis (sinusitis, upper and lower airway infections...). Asthma has been the disease more frequently associated to AR. CONCLUSION: AR and hypertension had a moderate impact on health related quality of life. It was similar in both diseases. An epidemiological association between rhinitis and asthma has been established in patients consulting primary care doctors.