[The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in patients with simple snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVES This study aims to investigate the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and the relation between allergic rhinitis and the development of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and OSAS severity in patients with simple snoring and OSAS. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 80 patients (51 males, 29 females; mean age 45.4±8.1 years; range 18 to 69 years) who were admitted to our clinic with the complaints of snoring and nocturnal awakening and diagnosed with simple snoring and OSAS were included in the study and divided into four groups according to apnea-hypopnea indexes (AHIs) scores. The patients were interrogated about the presence of allergic rhinitis. Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and prick tests were performed. RESULTS We found allergic rhinitis in 18 of the 80 (23%) patients. The house mites were found to be the causative allergen in 13 of the 18 (72%) patients. CONCLUSION We recommend that the allergy symptoms such as nasal obstruction and sneezing should be added to the questions that are asked to the patients with simple snoring and OSAS and that the investigations should include the skin prick and RAST tests in these patients.