title: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis and atopic markers in obstructive sleep apnea.
abstract: Allergic rhinitis (AR) related inflammation might worsen the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), however, the relationship between the two disorders remains controversial. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of AR and atopic markers in OSA. This cross-sectional study recruited participants with sleep-related complaints referred to a sleep center from February 2013 to June 2014. The diagnosis of OSA was based on the Berlin questionnaire (BQ) followed by confirmatory polysomnography (PSG). The diagnosis of AR was made via focused history and clinical examination and was confirmed by measuring atopic markers. OSA was diagnosed in 97 out of 157 adults attending the sleep clinic (61.8%). There was a high prevalence of AR (52.6%) among OSA individuals. This was not significantly different from the frequency in the non-OSA individuals (p=0.5). Elevated total immunoglobulin E (IgE; >100K/μL), eosinophil count, and positive Phadiatop tests were found in individuals with OSA to be 37.1%, 11.3%, and 41.2%, respectively. Individuals without OSA have shown similar percentages. In our cohort, there was no significant difference in frequency of AR and atopy among participants with OSA compared to those without OSA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ghadah
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gadi
authors.affiliation: Sleep Medicine and Research Center, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: sowali@kau.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Siraj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wali
authors.affiliation: Dean of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Emad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koshak
authors.affiliation: Sleep Medicine and Research Center, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albar
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulkareem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fida
authors.affiliation: Tameside Hospital, Ashton under Lyne, Greater Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Muntasir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdelaziz
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alnoury
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D015995:Prevalence; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Atopic markers; Atopy; Obstructive sleep apnea