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.