Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences, 2015, 11, 501-506 501 ISSN: 1814-8085 / E-ISSN: 1927-5129/15 © 2015 Lifescience Global To Assess the Quality of Life in Patients Suffering from Allergic Rhinitis Nikhil Sharma 1 , Prithpal S. Matreja 2,* , Monika Gupta 3 , Vipan Gupta 4 , Manish Gupta 5 and Ashwani K. Gupta 2 1 MBBS Student, Final Year, Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Village Ram Nagar, District Patiala, Punjab, 140601, India 2 Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Village Ram Nagar, District Patiala, Punjab, 140601, India 3 Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Science and Research, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India 4 Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Science and Research, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India 5 Associate Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Village Ram Nagar, District Patiala, Punjab, 140601, India Abstract: Background: Allergic Rhinitis (AR) associated with impairments in patients day-to-day functioning at home and work is a global health problem. It’s associated with sleep disorders, emotional problems, impairment in activities, and social functioning. However, it’s not known to what extent quality of life (QOL) scores, work impairment, or sleep is altered in Indian setup hence, this study was designed to assess the quality of life of patients suffering from allergic rhinitis. Methodology: This prospective, observational, cross sectional study was conducted on patients suffering from allergic rhinitis visiting the out patients department. The patients who gave written informed consent were divided into two groups based on gender, Group 1 was males and Group 2 was females. A detailed history was taken and participants underwent thorough medical examination, followed by assessment on Rhino conjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) and WHOQOL – Bref scores. Results: A total of 87 patients were screened of which 40 patients were enrolled in study. The average age of patients in the study was 28.08±10.01, a total of 26 males and 14 females completed the study. There were significantly worse non nose/eyes symptoms scores, practical problems, and emotional scores in patients in Group 2 as compared to Group 1. Group 1 had better aspect of sleep, nasal symptoms, and eyes symptoms as compared to Group 2. Whereas, Group2 had better aspect of activities score as compared to Group 1. Conclusion: To conclude both groups had compromised quality of life, with females being more affected as compared to males Keywords: Allergic rhinitis, quality of life, social, emotional, psychological. INTRODUCTION Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a major illness and disability worldwide, emerging as a global health problem and affects approximately 40 million people in the United States of America (USA) [1, 2]. There has been an increase in the overall prevalence of AR since the early 1980s across all age, sex, and racial groups and is accounted as one of the most common chronic diseases among all age groups in the USA [1, 3]. The symptoms of allergic rhinitis are mainly nasal with complaints of rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, and sneezing [2, 4]. The patients also tends to experience *Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Pharmacology, Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Village Ram Nagar, Tehsil Rajpura, District Patiala, Punjab, 140601, India; Mob: +91-9855001847; Fax: +91-1762-520024; E-mail: drpsmatreja@yahoo.co.in non-nasal symptoms which are troublesome, including headache, thirst, and disturbed sleep with fatigue, mood changes, depression, anxiety and impairments of work, school performance, and cognitive function [2, 4]. Only 12.4% of patients consult a physician, and instead choose to self-treat with home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) medications; although they experience unpleasant symptoms with allergic rhinitis, they do not seek medical advice and [5, 6]. Increases in direct and in direct cost is associated with lack of treatment, under treatment, or non adherence. The direct, indirect, and hidden cost associated with allergic rhinitis is expensive as well as debilitating [5]. Reinforcement is needed for patient education and for physicians to implement existing evidence-based guidelines for prevention and treatment [5]. The total estimated cost of allergic rhinitis was between 1.2 and