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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
08:47
Symptom Assessment of Patients with Allergic Rhinitis Using an Allergen Exposure Chamber
Published on: March 3, 2023
Visual analog scale (VAS) and nasal obstruction in persistent allergic rhinitis
Giorgio Ciprandi1, Francesco Mora, Michele Cassano
1Department of Internal Medicine, Genoa University, Genoa, Italy. gio.cip@libero.it
Summary
Visual analog scales (VAS) reliably quantify nasal obstruction in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients. This offers a practical alternative to rhinomanometry when it is unavailable.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Allergy and Immunology
Background:
- Nasal airflow resistance is often impaired in allergic rhinitis (AR).
- Rhinomanometry is the standard but is not widely available.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the utility of visual analog scales (VAS) as a substitute for rhinomanometry in measuring nasal obstruction in persistent AR patients.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study was conducted with 50 allergic rhinitis patients at an ENT clinic.
- Patients completed VAS for nasal obstruction and other AR symptoms, alongside rhinomanometry.
Main Results:
- A very strong correlation (Spearman r = 0.879, P < 0.001) was found between VAS for nasal obstruction and rhinomanometry measurements.
- A significant correlation was also observed between VAS for rhinorrhea and nasal airflow resistance (Spearman r = 0.313, P = 0.027).
Conclusions:
- Visual analog scales (VAS) provide a clinically relevant and reliable method for quantifying nasal obstruction in AR.
- VAS can be effectively used in place of rhinomanometry when the latter is not accessible.
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