알레르기 비염 환자에서 증상의 경중과 주관적 수면 장애 정도의 관계

Background and Objectives: Several studies have attempted to clarify relations between allergic rhinitis and OSAS (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome). However, debate is ongoing as to whether allergic rhinitis is a risk factor of sleep disturbance. This study was designed to identify correlations between symptomatic severity of allergic rhinitis and subjective severity of sleep disturbance. Subjects and Methods: Patients who showed positive reaction to allergic skin test or MAST from April 2006 to March 2007 were given sleep specific questionnaire and 52 patients answered. The questionnaire consisted of 7 categories on sleep disorders including difficulties in inducing sleep (DIS), difficulties in maintaining sleep (DMS), early morning awakening (EMA), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), snoring, nightmare, gastroesophageal reflux (GER). And the scores for each category were compared for two groups according to ARIA classification: mild group and moderate to severe group. Results: A total of 52 patients were enrolled in this study. 15 patients as mild allergic rhinitis group and 37 patients as moderate-severe allergic rhinitis group. Their mean age was 35.2 years. Among the questionnaire, difficulties in inducing sleep (DIS), difficulties in maintaining sleep (DMS), nightmare and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) showed stastically significant diffrence between two groups. Conclusion: This study indicates that subjective severity of sleep disturbance was significantly higher in moderate-severe allergic rhinitis group than mild allergic rhinitis group. Therefore, it is suggested that appropriate treatment of allergic rhinitis may reduce sleep disturbance which leads to EDS, cognitive deterioration, fatigue etc. (J Clinical Otolaryngol 2007;18:219–223)