title: Evaluation of quality of life questionnaires for adult patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of instruments to assess quality of life (QoL) in patients with moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR) vs intermittent allergic rhinitis (IAR).
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 106 patients with PAR and 99 with IAR and 50 healthy subjects in the control group. Questionnaire results were obtained using the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form 36 (SF-36), a visual analog scale (VAS), and the rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) and were analyzed using correlational analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Correlations between the total scores and most domains of the 3 questionnaires were stronger in patients with PAR than in those with IAR, although the difference between groups was significant only for the RQLQ (P < .01). The QoL was worse in the PAR subgroup than in the IAR subgroup in the domains of social functioning in the SF-36 and for items of sleeping problems and activity limitations in the RQLQ. There were significant correlations between RQLQ and VAS-eye symptoms in the PAR subgroup but not in the IAR subgroup.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 3 questionnaires differentiated patients with AR from the healthy population, with significant but weak correlation with each other. The correlations were higher in patients with PAR than in those with IAR. The moderate to severe PAR has a greater effect on quality of life than IAR. Eye symptoms affected the QoL more in patients with PAR than in those with IAR.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: YongBo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: LiHong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: XiaoMing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: DeYun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult