553 Correlation between Severity of Allergic Rhinitis and Impairment of Quality of Life in Allergic Adolescents

BACKGROUND: Determine severity of the disease and its correlation with the degree of impairment in quality of life in adolescent patients with allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Were captured 124 adolescents aged 10 to 17 years, attending the outpatient Allergy Service at Social Security Hospital in Mexico, diagnosed with Allergic Rhinitis (AR). Before the clinical evaluation to confirm the diagnosis, severity of Allergic Rhinitis were classified according to criteria of Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA), and were administered the Adolescents Quality of Life Rhinoconjunctivitis Questionnaire (AdolRQLQ). RESULTS: In determining the frequency and intensity of symptoms of allergic rhinitis according to the ARIA classification of the degree of severity was more frequent, in 48%, moderate Persistent AR; followed by mild persistent AR in a 30%, moderate intermittent AR 14%, mild intermittent AR 5% and severe AR only 3%. By applying the questionnaire AdolRQLQ we found moderate affectation of the quality of life in 73% of patients, a severe affectation in only 14% and slight in 13%. However, when performing the correlation between the severity of the disease and the degree of impairment of quality of life, we don't find a proportional relationship as there are patients who see the quality of life decreased significantly, even though the disease is classified as mild and vice versa. For example: 79% mild persistent AR patients scored for moderate affectation of the quality of life, only 13% for slight and 8% severe; while none of the adolescents scored for AR severe deterioration of the quality of life, all of them were classified with mild impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent patients with allergic rhinitis are affected quality of life this involvement is not directly proportional to the severity of the disease. Treatment, in addition to seeking control of symptoms, should provide the support needed to improve their quality of life.