• Mustafa Acar, Cemal Cingi, Oner Sakallioglu, Turhan San, Mehmet Fatih Yimenicioglu, and Cengiz Bal.
• Ear, Nose, and Throat Department, Yunus Emre State Hospital, Eskisehir, Turkey.
• Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2013 Jul 1; 27 (4): e113-6.

BackgroundAllergic rhinitis (AR) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are worldwide prevalent diseases. These diseases impair patient quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the efficacy of treatment of AR on OSAS by objective and subjective methods.MethodsThe study group was composed of 80 OSAS patients with AR between the ages of 30 and 50 years. The patients were admitted with the complaint of snoring, and they were asked about AR-related symptoms (nasal discharge, nasal itching, sneeze, and nasal obstruction). Daytime somnolence was measured by the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). Sleep parameters on polysomnography tests before and after treatment were compared, and the effects of different AR treatment protocols on sleep quality were evaluated.ResultsWhen pretreatment and posttreatment apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) values of the groups were compared, the most significant difference was observed in the nasal steroid (Ns) + antihistamine (Ah) group (p < 0.05). The ESS results were significantly decreased in the Ns and Ns + Ah groups after treatment (p < 0.05). AHI oxygen saturation <90% were significantly decreased in the Ns and Ns + Ah groups after treatment (p < 0.05).ConclusionNasal obstruction due to nasal congestion causes increases in airway resistance and can lead to development of OSAS. We concluded that treating AR with Ns has both positive effects on OSAS and daily activity. However, adding Ah to this treatment did not show improved effects compared with placebo treatment.

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