Allergic rhinitis and its effect on sleep, fatigue, and daytime somnolence.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the adverse effects of sleep impairment on the quality of life of patients with the disorder and how these effects can be treated with therapies targeted at the underlying problems that influence sleep.

DATA SOURCES: Medline and Ovid search for sleep and rhinitis.

STUDY SELECTION: All literature on this topic were reviewed, and, if significant, were incorporated into this review.

RESULTS

Intranasal corticosteroids used as treatment for allergic rhinitis have been shown to reduce the nasal congestion characteristic of the disorder. Data on sleep-related end points from clinical trials on intranasal corticosteroids also reveal that the treatment's effectiveness in alleviating nasal congestion leads to better sleep, reduced daytime somnolence, and improved quality of life.

CONCLUSION

Further research, specifically using sleep measurements as primary end points, is needed to definitively show that intranasal corticosteroids reduce nasal congestion, thereby improving sleep and, consequently, quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis. These future trials will serve to identify the most effective therapies that target the adverse effects of sleep impairment in this disorder.