Effects of montelukast on quality of life in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of montelukast monotherapy on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis. STUDY DESIGN: The study was placebo-controlled, randomized, and double blinded. SETTING: Tertiary university hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: There were 46 patients in the study group and 24 patients in the control group, all of whom had a diagnosis of persistent allergic rhinitis of at least two years. The patients were evaluated at two control visits after the diagnosis. The study group was given 10-mg montelukast oral tablets, while the control group was given a placebo, and these were taken daily for one month. For evaluation of HRQL in both groups, the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) was used. RESULTS: There was a larger decrease in the overall RQLQ score for the group using montelukast compared with the placebo group (P < 0.001). The difference between scores at baseline versus the end of the first month for all domains was statically significant in both the placebo group and study group (P < 0.001). The difference in change from baseline to the end of the first month (treatment difference) between the placebo group and the study group was statically significant, in favor of the study group, for sleep, practical problems, nasal problems, and activities that have been limited by nose or eye symptoms, and for overall score (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.003, P < 0.001, and P <0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Montelukast is a drug that improves the disease-specific quality of life in patients being treated for persistent allergic rhinitis better than placebo. (C) 2010 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.