Quality of Life during Pollen Season in Patients with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis with or without Asthma

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Abstract
We studied the evolution of generic and rhinoconjunctivitis-specific quality of life (QOL) during pollen season in patients with isolated seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and those with asthma and concomitant SAR (AS+SAR). Generic QOL between groups was also compared at pollen peak. A prospective cohort study was conducted in Southern France in 2002. Outpatients aged 18-60, regularly visiting respiratory physicians for SAR, were recruited before the grass (grass cohort) or ragweed pollination period (ragweed cohort). Before the pollination period (baseline) and at peak pollination, patients completed French versions of the Mini Rhinoconjuctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (Mini-RQLQ) and physical and mental Short Form-12 (SF-12) scores (PCS and MCS) to determine rhinoconjunctivitis and generic QOL. Totals of 83 and 52 patients were included in the SAR and AS+SAR groups, respectively (mean age=35.4; 56.4% females). Mini-RQLQ scores indicated slightly worse QOL in the A+SAR group at inclusion, which significantly deteriorated at the time of pollen peak, both in the SAR (p<0.0001) and AS+SAR groups (p=0.003). In univariate analysis, significantly higher SF-12 PCS (meaning better QOL) were observed at pollen peak in the SAR compared with the AS+SAR group (p=0.0008), while the difference for SF-12 MCS was more limited (p=0.05). Results were confirmed in multivariable analyses adjusting for gender, allergy medication use at pollen peak, cohort of inclusion (grass/ragweed) and comorbid conditions. Significant deterioration in rhinoconjunctivitis-specific QOL was observed through the pollination period in patients with SAR and AS+SAR. At pollen peak, AS+SAR patients experienced significantly worse physical functioning than patients with SAR alone.

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