Impact on quality of life

Severe allergic rhinitis is a major barrier to personal fulfilment for sufferers.

In addition to the classic symptoms of sneezing, rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction, it is also associated with impairment of daily life since it affects sleep, school, social life and work¹.

Severe allergic rhinitis also leads to a change in lifestyle: changes in habitat, adverse consequences for sporting activities. This impact of allergic rhinitis on daily life gives rise to indirect economic costs which demonstrate the need to improve management of these patients.

The consequences of severe allergic rhinitis on the quality of life and the impact of the need for regular medication have only been taken into account in recent years. Management of these patients is insufficient.

• 43% of people suffering from severe allergic rhinitis have trouble sleeping²
• 42% of people with allergies feel their are less productive at work³
• 35% of children suffering from severe respiratory allergies have already taken days of school because of the disease⁴
• 65% of people suffering from respiratory allergies say it disrupts their sporting activities⁵
• 23% of people with someone suffering from respiratory allergy in their household have had to give up plans to keep a pet or been forced to let one go⁶
• 51% of adults with rhinitis suffer from regular headaches⁶

www.comite-allergies.org/

Allergic rhinitis has a negative impact on the maxilo-facial growth of children, nasal or oral ventilation being able to influence morphogenesis⁷.

Nasal obstruction leads to poor development of the upper jaw, an incorrect position of the tongue which orthodontic treatments are unable to correct⁸.

Nasal obstruction is also at the origin of non-restorative sleep which leads to asthenia and irritability⁹.

Finally, nasal obstruction may be the cause of malfunction of the bronchial tubes or otitis with consequences in terms of hearing impairment10.

¹ Bousquet J. et al. Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA).Allergy 2008: 63 (Suppl. 86): 8–160
² Demoly P. et al. Physician and patient survey of allergic rhinitis in France: perception of prevalence, severity of symptoms, care management and specific immunotherapy. Allergy. 2008: 63: 1008–1014
³ Opinion Way – CFOA – Avril 2007
⁴ Opinion Way – CFOA – Avril 2007
⁵ Opinion Way – CFOA – Juin 2008
⁶ CFOA Décembre 2009 -  Enquête exclusive CSA / CFOA réalisée par téléphone le 30 septembre et le 1er octobre 2009
⁷ Cole P. et al. The respiratory role of upper airways. A selective clinical and pathophysiological review. St Louis. Mosby Year Book. 1993
⁸ Berthet A. et al. Interception précoce des dysfonctions oro-faciales : pourquoi et comment? Chir. Dent. Fr. 2001. 1046: 40-44.
⁹ Kerosuo H. et al. The role of prevention and simple interceptive measures in reducing the need for orthodontic treatment. Med. Princ. Pract. 2002; 11 suppl 1: 16-21.
¹⁰ Deniaud J. et al. Ventilation nasale et dimension verticale : étude clinique et fonctionnelle. Orthod Fr. 2003;74:285-313