Correlation between Allergic Rhinitis and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) exhibits nonspecific clinical presentations, and these symptoms may be associated with other conditions such as allergies, including allergic rhinitis and laryngitis. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the correlation of laryngopharyngeal reflux with allergic rhinitis/laryngitis. Hence, the aim of this study is to explore the correlation between these two conditions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 126 patients with suggestive manifestations of laryngopharyngeal reflux were included in this study. Patients were classified into LPR positive and negative groups based on the results of a 24-hour oropharyngeal pH monitoring system while allergic rhinitis status was assessed with the score for allergic rhinitis (SFAR). THE RESULTS OF THE TWO GROUPS WERE COMPARED REGARDING THE SFAR SCORE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE PH RESULTS AND SFAR SCORE WAS EXPLORED RESULTS: The LPR positive group demonstrated significantly higher SFAR scores compared to the negative LPR group (p < 0.0001). In addition, the Ryan score was significantly correlated with the SFAR total score and its symptomatology-related items (r ranged between 0.35 and 0.5). Conclusion. It seems that laryngopharyngeal reflux increases patients' self-rating of allergic manifestations. It appears that there is an association between laryngopharyngeal reflux and allergic rhinitis/laryngitis.

Validation of the Arabic version of the score for allergic rhinitis tool.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common inflammation of the nasal mucosa in response to allergen exposure. We translated and validated the Score for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR) into an Arabic version so that the disease can be studied in an Arabic population. OBJECTIVES: SFAR is a non-invasive self-administered tool that evaluates eight items related to AR. This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the SFAR questionnaire into Arabic, and assess the validity, consistency, and reliability of the translated version in an Arabic-speaking population of patients with suspected AR. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Tertiary care hospital in Riyadh. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: The Arabic version of the SFAR was administered to patients with suspected AR and control participants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Comparison of the AR and control groups to determine the test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the instrument. RESULTS: The AR (n=173) and control (n=75) groups had significantly different Arabic SFAR scores (P < .0001). The instrument provided satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha value of 0.7). The test-retest reliability was excellent for the total Arabic SFAR score (r =0.836, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that the Arabic version of the SFAR is a valid tool that can be used to screen Arabic speakers with suspected AR. LIMITATIONS: The absence of objective allergy testing.

Assessment of satisfaction based on age and gender in functional and aesthetic rhinoplasty.

The aim of this study was to assess patients' satisfaction based on gender and age using the Rhinoplasty Outcomes Evaluation (ROE) post-rhinoplasty from both functional and aesthetic outcomes. The study design was a prospective observational study. A total of 103 patients who underwent Rhinoplasty were prospectively investigated from January 2011 through December 2013 at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The sample included 61 males (59.2%) and 42 females (40.7%). The overall mean age was (25.2 ± 5.9) years (range 17-48 years). ROE was distributed pre- and post-surgery. The overall difference in satisfaction was significant (p < 0.0001). The mean satisfaction difference of function was increased by 21.5%, raising the satisfaction percentage from 57.1% initially to 78.5% post-surgery (mean -0.215, CI -0.269, -0.161). Satisfaction of shape post-rhinoplasty showed that the mean satisfaction increased by 31.3% (mean -0.313, CI -0.369, -0.256), which changed the satisfaction from a mean of 44.2% before surgery to 75.5% post-rhinoplasty (p = 0.000). There was no significant difference in satisfaction between males and females, nor was there a significant difference in satisfaction among different age groups (p > 0.05). There was a significant overall increase in patients' satisfaction from functional and aesthetic outcomes post-surgery based on ROE. Our study showed that age and gender did not significantly affect satisfaction. The ROE was a useful tool to implement for assessing the quality-of-life post-rhinoplasty.