Prevalence of Nasal Hyperreactivity in Chronic Upper Airway Inflammation

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Rhinitis, or inflammation of the nasal mucosa, can present with nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, itch or sneezing. If the sinusal mucosa is involved as well, it is called rhinosinusitis and facial pain or loss of smell is possible. Several causes are known, such as an underlying allergy (allergic rhinitis, AR). If at least 2 symptoms are present for at least 12 weeks, it is called chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Up to 2/3 of the AR and CRS patients have symptoms upon exposure to triggers such as sudden temperature changes, smoke, fragrances… a phenomenon called nasal hyperreactivity (NHR). It is currently not clear why some patients suffer NHR while others do not. In this study, the investigators want to determine the prevalence and severity of nasal hyperreactivity in patients with chronic upper airway inflammation. To this end, patients and healthy controls will be asked to fill out a questionnaire inquiring presence and severity of nasal symptoms upon exposure to particular environmental triggers.

Official Title
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Prevalence of Nasal Hyperreactivity in Chronic Upper Airway Inflammation: a Prevalence Study

Conditions
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Hyperactivity, Chronic Rhinosinusitis (Diagnosis), Chronic Rhinitis, Upper Respiratory Disease

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Questionnaire


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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PATIENTS Inclusion Criteria: age 18-65 y Nasal inflammatory symptoms for 12 weeks or longer (nasal obstruction, post-nasal drip, rhinorrhea, loss of smell, sneezing/itch, facial pain) Signed informed consent Exclusion Criteria: - Current or medical history of malignancy in the last ten years CONTROLS Inclusion Criteria: age 18-65 y No nasal inflammatory symptoms for 12 weeks or longer (nasal obstruction, post-nasal drip, rhinorrhea, loss of smell, sneezing/itch, facial pain) Signed informed consent Exclusion Criteria: - Current or medical history of malignancy in the last ten years

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Patients<br>Patients with chronic upper airway inflammation | Other: Questionnaire<br>* Patients and healthy controls will fill out a questionnaire<br>|
| Healthy control<br>Healthy controls without chronic upper airway inflammation | Other: Questionnaire<br>* Patients and healthy controls will fill out a questionnaire<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Comparison of the proportion of patients and healthy volunteers with nasal hyperreactivity | Every participant will fill out a questionnaire inquiring presence of nasal symptoms evoked by environmental triggers and lasting longer than ten minutes (nasal hyperreactivity). The proportion of patients and healthy volunteers with nasal hyperreactivity will be compared. | 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Comparison of nasal symptom severity in patients and healthy volunteers with and without nasal hyperreactivity. | Every participant will fill out a questionnaire inquiring nasal symptom severity by means of a visual analogue scale (VAS). The severity of symptoms will be scored on a horizontal line of 10 cm, where 0 cm equals no symptoms and 10 cm equals very severe symptoms. The VAS-scores of patients and healthy volunteers with and without nasal hyperreactivity will be compared. | 3 months | 
| Comparison of the proportion of healthy volunteers and four groups of patients (allergic rhinitis, non-allergic non-infectious rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps) with nasal hyperreactivity. | Every participant will fill out a questionnaire inquiring presence of nasal symptoms evoked by environmental triggers and lasting longer than ten minutes (nasal hyperreactivity). The proportion of healthy volunteers and four groups of patients (allergic rhinitis, non-allergic non-infectious rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps) with nasal hyperreactivity will be compared. | 3 months | 
| Comparison of nasal symptom severity in healthy volunteers and four groups of patients [allergic rhinitis, non-allergic non-infectious rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with and CRS without nasal polyps] with and without nasal hyperreactivity. | Every participant will fill out a questionnaire inquiring nasal symptom severity by means of a visual analogue scale (VAS). The severity of symptoms will be scored on a horizontal line of 10 cm, where 0 cm equals no symptoms and 10 cm equals very severe symptoms. The VAS-scores of healthy volunteers and four groups of patients (allergic rhinitis, non-allergic non-infectious rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps) with and without nasal hyperreactivity will be compared. | 3 months |