Which type of allergic rhinitis is more associated with impaired quality of life and sleep and increased symptoms of anxiety and depression?

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The present study aimed to assess the symptoms of anxiety and depression, quality of life (QoL), and sleep quality in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Additionally, the study sought to analyze the relationship between these parameters and the severity of the disease, duration of symptoms, seasonality, predominant symptoms, and the coexistence of asthma. A total of 88 patients with AR without any systemic comorbidity and 78 healthy controls were enrolled. Patients with AR were grouped as mild or moderate-severe, seasonal or perennial, intermittent or persistent, and sneezers-runners or blockers. The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), Short Form-36 (SF-36), and Single-item Sleep Quality Scale (SQS) were assessed. HADS depression and anxiety scores were elevated in patients with AR compared to healthy controls (p=0.006 and p=0.025, respectively), and SF-36 physical role functionality and general health perception domains and SQS scores were lower (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.004, sequentially). HADS anxiety scores were more elevated in individuals with AR and concomitant asthma (p=0.037). Higher depression and anxiety scores and lower sleep quality were observed in the moderate-severe group relative to the mild group (p=0.038, p=0.028, and p<0.001, respectively), and in the persistent group relative to the intermittent group (p=0.010, p=0.030, and p<0.001 sequentially). Blockers had higher HADS scores (p=0.010 and p=0.015, respectively) and lower sleep quality and social role functioning than sneezers-runners (p=0.040 and p=0.034, in sequence). Our study showed that AR downgraded patients' well-being. The severity, persistence, perennialism, nasal obstruction, and asthma comorbidity of the disease in question had a deleterious effect on the QoL and sleep, as well as mood.