Teva Respiratory announced results from the recently completed Nasal Allergy Survey Assessing Limitations (NASL) 2010, which found patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) who had nasal symptoms were more likely to experience sleep disturbances, including difficulty getting to sleep and/or waking up during the night. Lack of a good night’s sleep can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. For people living with nasal allergies in the United States, these symptoms, including post-nasal drip, repeated sneezing, nasal congestion, and headache, are reportedly at their worst during the spring months, specifically April and May.

Results from NASL 2010 suggest the fatigue nasal allergy patients are experiencing may be related to sleep disruption caused by the common symptoms associated with AR. Lack of adequate sleep and increased tiredness may also lead to patients feeling “irritable” and “miserable,” which can contribute to other emotional and mood effects like anxiety and depression. When nasal symptoms are at their worst, patients find it difficult to get a good night’s sleep, which can negatively impact their work performance by reducing productivity, resulting in both social and economic costs.

“The negative impact that allergic rhinitis symptoms can have on a patient’s quality of sleep is considerable, as it not only affects them physically, but also emotionally,” said Gary Gross, MD, FAAAAI, Dallas Allergy & Asthma Center, Dallas. “As allergy season is upon us, it’s important for patients suffering from allergic rhinitis symptoms, like post-nasal drip, to understand how these symptoms can negatively affect their quality of life.”

Teva Respiratory recently presented findings from NASL 2010 at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

NASL provides a current assessment of patient and health care provider perspectives concerning allergic rhinitis. A national sample of 400 people aged 18 and older, who had been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, nasal allergies, or hay fever, and who had experienced nasal allergy symptoms or taken medication for their condition in the past 12 months, were interviewed as part of this study.