Abstract
BackgroundAllergic rhinitis is one of the most prevalent allergic diseases worldwide which diagnosis is based on typical clinical signs and positive results of allergic tests. Selection and evaluation of treatment is based mainly on subjective symptoms. Objective measurement of patients’ complaints is necessary for proper documentation and follow-up. There are no short simple validated questionnaire assessing nasal symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis in Lithuania. Total nasal symptoms score (TNSS) is a brief questionnaire which evaluate the severity of main symptoms of allergic rhinitis widely used in different countries. Our aim was to translate the TNSS in the Lithuanian language and to validate it.MethodsProspective cross-cultural adaption and validation study was performed. Linguistic validation of TNSS was performed and validity and reliability were assessed. Patients with chronic allergic and non-allergic rhinitis and healthy individuals were included in this study. Patients had to complete translated version of TNSS. Patients with allergic rhinitis additionally were asked to fill Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ).ResultsSeventy-six individuals were involved into the study: 16 with non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) (21.1%), 49 with allergic rhinitis (AR) (64.5%) and 11 healthy individuals (14.5%). Cronbach’s α was 0.87. TNSS score was significantly higher in patients with NAR and AR compared with healthy individuals (3.56 ± 2.28 vs. 4.28 ± 2.46 vs. 0.27 ± 0.91). Positive significant correlation was found between TNSS score and RQLQ score (rs = 0.77, p < 0.01).ConclusionsThe Lithuanian version of the TNSS proved to be a valid instrument for assessing nasal symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis.
Highlights
Chronic rhinitis affects about 30% population worldwide [1]
Study population Seventy-six individuals were involved into the study: 16 with non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) (21.1%), 49 with allergic rhinitis (AR) (64.5%) and 11 healthy individuals (14.5%)
Validity Total nasal symptoms score (TNSS) score was significantly higher in patients with NAR and AR compared with healthy individuals (Table 4)
Summary
Chronic rhinitis affects about 30% population worldwide [1]. Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common phenotypes of this disease and one of the most prevalent allergic diseases worldwide [1,2,3,4]. Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is based on typical clinical signs (rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction or blockage, nasal itching, sneezing, and postnasal drip) and positive results of allergic tests [4]. Treatment of allergic rhinitis is chosen according to the severity of the disease, which is determined by clinical symptoms [4]. That is why it is very important to have simple standardized tool for evaluation of symptoms of allergic rhinitis in daily clinical practice. Allergic rhinitis is one of the most prevalent allergic diseases worldwide which diagnosis is based on typical clinical signs and positive results of allergic tests. There are no short simple validated questionnaire assessing nasal symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis in Lithuania. Total nasal symptoms score (TNSS) is a brief questionnaire which evaluate the severity of main symptoms of allergic rhinitis widely used in different countries. Our aim was to translate the TNSS in the Lithuanian language and to validate it
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