title: Autonomic function in adults with allergic rhinitis and its association with disease severity and duration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between allergic rhinitis (AR) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) has recently received substantial attention. However, no studies have assessed how the heart rate variability (HRV) parameters are associated with duration and disease severity in AR.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the difference in autonomic conditions among individuals with AR of various durations and severities and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  We divided individuals with AR into subgroups based on duration and severity of disease. Next, we measured HRV, and the results were compared among subgroups and healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High frequency (HF) and normalized high frequency (NHF) were significantly higher in the intermittent group than in the control group, whereas normalized low frequency (NLF) and the ratio of absolute LF to HF power (LF/HF) were significantly lower in the intermittent group than in the control group. Furthermore, NLF was significantly higher in the persistent group than in the intermittent group. HF and NHF were significantly higher in the mild group than in the control group, whereas NLF and LF/HF were significantly lower in the mild group than in the control group. The total nasal symptom and itchy nose scores were negatively correlated with NHF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that patients with intermittent and mild AR have hypervagal activity and hyposympathetic activity, and the predominance lessens in patients with more persistent AR and severe symptoms. Further investigation of the mechanisms underlying the association between autonomic function and persistent and severe AR is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Ji
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bo-Hyoung
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthal & Otorhinolaryngology & Dermatology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seoung-Gyu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Ophthal & Otorhinolaryngology & Dermatology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: inhwajun@khnmc.or.kr.
authors.forename: Inhwa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E