Abstract
AbstractAcoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry and Inspiratory Peak Nasal Flow (IPNF) are used in order to objectively assess nasal patency. These are expensive not very practical tests, except for IPNF, which is a fast, simple and low cost method. ObjectiveTo assess IPNF in healthy individuals complaining of nose obstruction caused by allergic rhinitis. MethodIPNF use in 78 individuals with and without rhinitis symptoms. Study designContemporary cross-sectional cohort. ResultsIPNF showed significant results for nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, pruritus, sneezes and tearing (p < 0.001). There was no correlation between the presence of nasal septum deviation and IPNF (p = 0.561). We found a positive correlation between IPNF and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for nasal obstruction (p = 0.002). In the multiple linear regression model, there was a statistical significance between the values found in IPNF with allergic rhinitis and age (p = 0.005 and p = 0.023 respectively). ConclusionIPNF proved to be a reliable method to detect changes in nasal patency, by obstructive causes as well as inflammatory causes, with an acceptable level of statistical significance, simple, easy to handle, inexpensive and reproducible.
Highlights
Nasal breathing is predominant in the human race, from birth all the way to adulthood
There was no correlation between the presence of nasal septum deviation and Inspiratory Peak Nasal Flow (IPNF) (p = 0.561)
We found a positive correlation between IPNF and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for nasal obstruction (p = 0.002)
Summary
Nasal breathing is predominant in the human race, from birth all the way to adulthood. More than half of the resistance against airflow in the respiratory tract can be found in the nose. The nasal valve is the region between the nasal septum, the anterior portion of the inferior turbinate and the lower border of the inferior lateral cartilage. It is the main mechanism regulating nasal airflow[1,2]. Besides respiratory well-being, other functions such as swallowing, sleep quality, olfaction, paranasal sinus aeration and middle ear health, among others, depend on proper nasal functioning. The development of objective assessment techniques of the nasal function is fundamental to diagnose deviations from normal and proper patient follow up
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