Study Population
Adults (18 years and older) newly referred for chronic rhinitis were
consecutively recruited. Patients were included if they had at least two
nasal symptoms (either nose block, runny nose, sneezing or itchy nose)
for at least three months. These rhinitis patients were grouped into
either “Rhinitis with PND” group or “Rhinitis only” group based on
presence or absence of PND symptoms. Patients were excluded if there was
a previous history of nasal surgery, who has underlying systemic
condition that affect the nasal mucosa such as autoimmune diseases,
Wegener’s Granulomatosis, Cystic Fibrosis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Pregnant patient, recent URTI/nasal infections, patients who have
chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and nasal tumors are also
excluded.
All recruited patients underwent assessment for rhinitis and scored the
severity of their nasal symptoms for the past 1 week using the visual
analogue score (0-100mm). They were defined to have allergic rhinitis if
there was suggestive history (presence of a trigger, other allergic
comorbidities, family history) supported by either a positive skin prick
test or serum specific immunoglobulin E towards aeroallergens.