Effect of continuous positive airway pressure on allergic rhinitis in patients with obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome

Figures & data

Table 1 Characteristics of OSAHS patients with and without CPAP therapy

	CPAP (n = 316)	Non-CPAP (n = 100)	P-value
Age (years), mean ± SD	55.21 ± 8.0	54.36 ± 7.5	0.349
Gender, male/female	261/55	85/15	0.575
BMI (kg/m^2), mean ± SD	26.76 ± 2.93	27.19 ± 2.96	0.195
AHI, mean ± SD
Moderate	23.89 ± 4.42	23.09 ± 4.49	0.288
Severe	47.16 ± 7.62	48.44 ± 8.27	0.290
Severity of OSAHS (moderate/severe)	77.5% (138/178)	85.2% (46/54)	0.683
Complication
Cardiovascular disease	38.3% (121/316)	37.0% (37/100)	0.817
Diabetes	16.8% (53/316)	11.0% (11/100)	0.163
Neurocognitive effects	12.0% (38/316)	13.0% (13/100)	0.796
AR history	8.2% (26/316)	6.0% (6/100)	0.466

Abbreviations: OSAHS, obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome; CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure; SD, standard deviation; BMI, body mass index; AHI, apnea–hypopnea index; AR, allergic rhinitis.

Table 2 Logistic regression analysis of risk factors that induce an increase in nasal symptom score after CPAP therapy

Risk factors	OR	95% CI	P-value
Age	0.73	0.44–1.22	0.228
Gender	1.06	0.41–2.76	0.900
BMI	1.22	0.73–2.02	0.452
Severity of OSAHS	1.73	0.79–3.78	0.170
Complication	1.23	0.92–1.65	0.167
CPAP compliant (four or more hours a day)	2.53	1.05–6.13	0.040
Frequency of filter change (less than four times a year)	2.87	1.35–6.11	0.006
History of allergic diseases	21.92	9.21–52.17	0.000

Abbreviations: CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; BMI, body mass index; OSAHS, obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome.

Table 3 Nasal symptoms after CPAP therapy

Parameter examined	CPAP	Non-CPAP	P-value
Onset of nasal symptom
Within one year	5.7% (18/316)	0 (0/100)	0.031
Within one to two years	2.5% (5/200)	1.0% (1/100)	0.662
Within two to three years	1.0% (1/98)	0 (0/100)	0.495
HDM skin prick test	100% (24/24)	100% (1/1)	1.000
Exacerbation of nasal symptom
Within one year	0.6% (2/316)	0 (0/100)	1.000
Within one to two years	7.5% (15/200)	0 (0/100)	0.005
Within two to three years	3.1% (3/98)	0 (0/100)	0.238
HDM skin prick test	100% (20/20)	–	–
Nasal symptom unchanged	1.9% (6/316)	6.0% (6/100)	0.073
HDM skin prick test	100% (6/6)	100% (6/6)	1.000
AR incidence	15.8% (50/316)	7.0% (7/100)	0.025

Note: HDM skin prick test indicates the percent of positive result.

Abbreviations: CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure; HDM, house dust mite; AR, allergic rhinitis.

Figure 1 Differences in HDM concentrations among the groups.

Abbreviations: HDM, house dust mite; CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure.