Role of rhinitis in laryngitis: another dimension of the unified airway.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the prevalence of dysphonia and secondary laryngeal symptoms among patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), nonallergic rhinitis (NAR), and no rhinitis symptoms (controls).

METHODS: Patients with rhinitis symptoms with positive and negative allergy tests were recruited from allergy clinics, and patients without rhinitis symptoms were recruited from an orthopedic clinic. All groups completed the Voice-Related Quality of Life survey (VRQOL),the mini-Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (mini-RQLQ), and the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI).

RESULTS: Completing the study were 134 patients with AR, 54 patients with NAR, and 62 controls. Both AR and NAR patients had an increased prevalence of dysphonia compared to controls (32.8% and 26.9% versus 8.1%, respectively; p = 0.001). When we controlled for confounding variables such as asthma, inhaled steroid use, and gastroesophageal reflux, patients with either AR or NAR had higher odds of dysphonia (odds ratio, 4.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 17.32). Patients with worse mini-RQLQ scores had lower VRQOL scores and higher RSI scores (Spearman correlation of -0.47 and p < 0.001 and Spearman correlation of 0.6 and p <0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with rhinitis (AR or NAR) had a higher prevalence of dysphonia than did controls. Patients with worse rhinitis symptoms had worse voice-related quality of life and more severe chronic laryngeal symptoms.