Reproducibility of acoustic rhinometry in the investigation of occupational rhinitis.
BACKGROUND
To diagnose occupational rhinitis, it is mandatory to conduct an objective assessment of changes in nasal patency during specific inhalation challenge (SIC). The reproducibility of acoustic rhinometry measurements in the setting of occupational challenges has never been examined. This study assessed the reproducibility of acoustic rhinometry during SIC investigation of occupational rhinitis.


METHODS
Twenty-four subjects underwent acoustic rhinometry measurements during SIC investigation of occupational rhinitis. Subjects attended 3-6 days of SIC within a week by means of a realistic or closed-circuit apparatus methodology


RESULTS
All of the within-day intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for nasal volume (2-5 cm) and minimum cross-sectional area (MCA) based on a different number of measurements (2-7) were above 0.85; all of the coefficients of variation (CVs)for the same parameters were low (below 10%). The between-day CVs based on different numbers of SIC sessions ranged from 8.0 to 8.8% and from 6.8 to 8.8%for nasal volume and MCA, respectively. The between-day ICCs ranged from 0.80 to 0.88 and from 0.83 to 0.94 for nasal volume and MCA, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Acoustic rhinometry showed good within- and between-day reproducibility and can be recommended for the objective monitoring of nasal patency during SIC investigating occupational rhinitis.
Castano
Roberto
R
Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. roberto.castano@mail.mcgill.ca
Thériault
Gilles
G
Gautrin
Denyse
D
Ghezzo
Heberto
H
Trudeau
Carole
C
Malo
Jean-Luc
JL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic