A clinical trial of hypertonic saline nasal spray in subjects with the common cold or rhinosinusitis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether hypertonic saline nasal spray relieves nasal symptoms and shortens illness duration in patients with the common cold or acute rhinosinusitis.


METHODS
Randomized trial with 2 control groups.


METHODS
Two family practice clinics.


METHODS
One hundred forty-three adult patients with a cold or sinus infection. Patients with allergic rhinitis, symptoms for more than 3 weeks, or other respiratory diagnoses were excluded, as were those who had used topical decongestants.


METHODS
Hypertonic saline or normal saline spray 3 times a day or observation. Subjects completed a 7-day symptom checklist that included a well-being question ("Do you feel back to normal?").


METHODS
Nasal symptom score (sum of scores for nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, and headache) on day 3 and day of well-being (day of symptom resolution).


RESULTS
Data were collected for 119 subjects. No difference was found in either primary outcome when hypertonic saline was compared with either normal saline or observation. Mean day of well-being was 8.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.9-9.7), 9.2 (95% CI, 6.9-11.43), and 8.0 (95% CI, 6.7-9.3) days in the hypertonic saline, normal saline, and observation groups, respectively. Day 3 mean nasal symptom score was 3.8 (95% CI, 3.0-4.5) for hypertonic saline, 3.7 (95% CI, 2.9-4.5) for normal saline, and 4.1 (95% CI, 3.5-4.7) for observation. Only 44% of the patients would use the hypertonic saline spray again. Thirty-two percent noted burning, compared with 13% of the normal saline group (P = .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Hypertonic saline does not improve nasal symptoms or illness duration in patients with the common cold or rhinosinusitis.
Adam
P
P
Riverside University Family Practice Clinic, University of Minnesota Department of Family Practice and Community Health, Minneapolis 55406, USA. padam@famprac.umn.edu
Stiffman
M
M
Blake
R L
RL
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D003139:Common Cold / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000628:therapy*; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure
D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic