Quality of life in allergic rhinitis

Abstract

Clinical and Experimental Allergy Reviews Quality of life (QoL)or, better, health-related quality of life, is now recognized as a crucial aspect in assessing the impact of a given disease on the general well-being of patients. This fact was ascertained in the last 10 years also for respiratory allergy (asthma and rhinitis). In particular, it was shown that allergic rhinitis (AR), although not life threatening, profoundly affects many aspects of everyday life. In this regard, a number of specific questionnaires (instruments) have been developed and validated to assess the quality of life in adults, adolescents and children. Although the concept of QoL is easy to understand, the development and validation process of questionnaires is quite complex and time consuming. The literature provided strong evidence of the effects of AR and its treatments on QoL, but also evidenced some controversial points, including the weak correlation of QoL with objective parameters. It has therefore become clear that QoL questionnaires measure aspects of the disease that partially differ from the routinely evaluated parameters and that quality of life should integrate, not replace, the objective measurements. In the near future, 'sharper' instruments are expected to be developed for the evaluation of quality of life and of the effects of treatments in AR.