Pregnancy Rhinitis in Turkish Women: Do Gestational Week, Bmi and Parity Affect Nasal Congestion?

Abstract

Objective:To determine the cumulative incidence of pregnancy rhinitis along with prevalence in different trimesters and to find out whether gestational age, BMI and parity have any effect on pregnancy related nasal congestion.Methods:In the prospective protocol at the obstetrics outpatient clinic, 167 pregnant women were enrolled consecutively. According to exclusion criteria, 67 of them were excluded. Visual-Analogue-Scale (VAS), Nasal-Obstructive-Symptom-Evaluation (NOSE) scale and Discharge-Inflammation-Polyps/Oedema (DIP) scoring were utilized for diagnosis of pregnancy rhinitis. Besides, weight, length, age, parity and week of pregnancy were recorded.Results:Total prevalence of pregnancy rhinitis was 17.17% and cumulative incidence was 38.89%. Our study revealed significant relation of NOSE score with both gestational week (r=0.474, p=0.001) and BMI (r=0.301, p=0.003). VAS score was significantly related with gestational week (r=0.409, p=0.001) and BMI (r=0.270, p=0.007). DIP score was found to be correlated only with gestational week (r=0.375, p=0.001).Conclusion:Cumulative incidence of pregnancy rhinitis was 38.89%. Nasal congestion was significantly associated with BMI and gestational week. Patients should be informed about unfavorable fetal and maternal outcomes of pregnancy related nasal congestion which is triggered by obesity and excessive weight gain in pregnancy.

Normative data for the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Scale in the general Australian population

“…For example, Ulkumen et al calculated NOSE scores in pregnant women with pregnancy rhinitis, demonstrating a significant correlation between NOSE score and BMI. 21 Conversely, Kanagalingam et al and Steele's group demonstrated obesity had no effect on severity of sinonasal disease symptoms in asthmatics or in patients prior to endoscopic sinus surgery. 22,23 The link between smoking and nasal airway obstruction seemed a little stronger, however.…”

Role of Nasal AQP5 And TREK1 Expression in Biomolecular Background of Pregnancy Rhinitis

“…They described PR as ''nasal congestion present during the last 6 or more weeks of gestation without other signs of respiratory tract infection and with no known allergic cause, resolving totally within 2 weeks after birth". Its incidence has been reported as between 9% -40% [2][3][4][5] . Despite its relatively high incidence, the level of public awareness is quite low.…”

“…Expression of both TREK1 and AQP5 were shown to be upregulated by Estradiol (E2) and progesterone (PG) [27][28][29][30] . It is well-known fact that these two gonadocorticoids exhibit a gradual increase during gestation 3 . In addition, effect of gonadocorticoids on nasal mucosa has been revealed in various aspects [31][32][33][34][35][36] .…”

Allergic rhinitis in the pregnant women

“…Однако имеются исследования, доказывающие отсутствие влияния уровня гормонов, в частности прогестерона, на развитие ринита у беременных [4]. Изучения прямого влияния эстрогенов, хорионического гонадотропина и плацентарного гормона роста на ринит у беременных вообще не проводилось, однако прямая корреляционная взаимосвязь между степенью заложенности носа и неделей гестации считается доказанной [5]. Некоторые исследователи считают, что ринит у беременных является результатом усиления субклинических аллергических реакций во время беременности [6,7].…”