In Sweden, the cost of rhinitis is euro 2.7 billion a year in terms of lost productivity. A reduction in lost productivity of 1 day per individual and year would potentially save euro 528 million.

Allergic rhinitis is a global illness with a well-recognised impact on quality of life and work performance. Comparatively little is known about the extent of its economic impact on society. The TOTALL study estimates the total cost of allergic rhinitis using a sample representing the entire Swedish population of working age. A questionnaire focused on allergic rhinitis was mailed out to a random population of Swedish residents, aged 18–65 years. Health-care contacts, medications, absenteeism (absence from work) and presenteeism (reduced working capacity at work) were assessed, and the direct and indirect costs of allergic rhinitis were calculated. Medication use was evaluated in relation to the ARIA guidelines. In all, 3,501 of 8,001 (44%) answered the questionnaire, and 855 (24%) of these reported allergic rhinitis. The mean annual direct and indirect costs because of allergic rhinitis were €210.3 and €750.8, respectively, resulting in a total cost of €961.1 per individual/year. Presenteeism represented 70% of the total cost. Antihistamines appear to be used in excess in relation to topical steroids, and the use of nasal decongestants was alarmingly high. The total cost of allergic rhinitis in Sweden, with a population of 9.5 million, was estimated at €1.3 billion annually. These unexpectedly high costs could be related to the high prevalence of disease, in combination with the previously often underestimated indirect costs. Improved adherence to guidelines might ease the economic burden on society.

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Exposure to several occupational irritants is associated with a higher risk of developing NIR.

The aim of the study was to examine certain predictors, especially non-infectious rhinitis, and the risk for adult-onset asthma. A nested case-control study of adult-onset asthma was performed in a random sample from the general population (n = 15,813), aged 21 to 51 years. Cases for the study included subjects reporting physician-diagnosed asthma (n = 235) and controls (n = 2044) were randomly selected from the whole population sample. The case-control sample was investigated with a comprehensive respiratory questionnaire. Odds ratios were calculated stratified for sex, year of diagnosis and birth-year. Adult-onset physician-diagnosed asthma was associated with occurrence of non-infectious rhinitis before asthma onset (OR = 5.4, 95% CI 4.0-7.2), especially among smoking non-atopics (OR = 9.1, 95% CI 5.3-15.4). Smoking before asthma onset increased the risk for asthma (OR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.1). In conclusion, this population-based case-control study indicate that non-infectious rhinitis and current smoking, especially among non-atopics, are associated with increased risk for adult-onset asthma.

A clinical trial of Oticon DigiFocus hearing aid was performed. The test aid was evaluated on 33 subjects with several years' experience as users of modern analog hearing aids. These aids were used as reference for the 1-month-long trial. The Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) showed a mean difference in benefit with superior ratings for the test aid concerning ease of communication, speech in reverberation and speech in background noise. The subjects' own aids were rated somewhat better concerning aversiveness of sounds, but this difference was not statistically significant. The Gothenburg Profile showed a statistically significant difference between the test aid and the reference aids in favour of the test aid. The difference was not most evident with regard to speech communication and the effects of hearing loss on social interactions. Sound quality ratings concerning clearness were significantly higher for the test aid. Speech recognition thresholds in noise were on average 0.7 dB better for the test aids when tested at speech levels 60 and 75 dB. The difference was statistically significant only at 75 dB. There was significant interaction between general preference and hearing aid type, indicating that overall sound quality was an important factor affecting the general preference for either the test aid or the reference aid. Twenty-three subjects generally preferred the test aid, six preferred their own aid and four stated no difference.

OMS was found in 48% of unilateral maxillary sinusitis and one-third of the patients with unilateral maxillary sinusitis had no dental evaluation. Low awareness of OMS could delay diagnosis and treatment.