title: The effects of dust storms on quality of life of allergic patients with or without asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate the quality of life of allergic patients with or without asthma during dust storms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 148 allergic patients (66 males, 82 females; mean age 35.7±15.5 years; range 18 to 65 years) were classified as those with (group 1, n=80) or without (group 2, n=68) concomitant asthma between January 2012 and January 2013. The quality of life [Short Form-36 (SF-36)] scores, Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ), nasal symptom and visual analog scale (VAS) scores at the time of diagnosis were obtained. The particulate matter (PM10) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) values of that day from the General Directorate of Meteorology were recorded. The day of dust storm and PM10 and SO2 measurements along with SF-36, RQLQ, nasal symptom and VAS scores were recorded again.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The absolute change in the RQLQ subparameters including eye and nasal symptoms, practical problems and global scores was statistically significant (p=0.022, p=0.036, p=0.026 and p=0.032, respectively). There were statistically significant changes in the SF-36 subgroups of general health, physical functioning, vitality, and mental health (p=0.026, p=0.042, p=0.008 and p=0.026, respectively). In the multivariate logistic regression model, specific and general quality of life was 4.6 times worse in RQLQ and 3.8 times in SF-36 after the dust storm in patients with asthma, while 2.1 times worse in RQLQ and 1.9 times in SF-36 in patients with pure allergic rhinitis. The attributable risk of asthma was found to be 2.5 times higher in RQLQ and 1.9 times higher in SF-36.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dust storms may deteriorate the quality of life of patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma and lead to related personal and societal problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Mardin State Hospital, 47200 Mardin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatih Kemal
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Soy
authors.forename: Haşmet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yazıcı
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kulduk
authors.forename: Rıza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dündar
authors.forename: Şule Taş
authors.initials: ŞT
authors.lastname: Gülen
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doğan
authors.forename: İlknur Haberal
authors.initials: İH
authors.lastname: Can
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003889:Desert Climate; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014919:Wind; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004391:Dust