Impact of nasal obstruction on sleep quality: a community-based study of women

The aim of the study was to analyse the impact of self-reported nasal obstruction on sleep quality in women. A community-based sample of 400 women underwent a full night of polysomnography. Airway diseases, allergies and sleep-related symptoms were assessed by questionnaires. Women with subjective nasal obstruction were subdivided into three groups: persistent nasal obstruction (PNO, n = 46), hay fever (n = 88) and nasal obstruction at night (NON, n = 30). Sleep problems and related daytime symptoms were most prevalent among women with NON. After adjusting for age, BMI, smoking and asthma, NON was an independent predictor of ‘Difficulties inducing sleep due to nasal obstruction’ [adjusted odds ratio (95 % CI): 89.5 (27.0–296.7)], ‘Snoring’ [4.2 (1.7–10.2)], ‘Sweating at night’ [2.6 (1.1–6.1)], ‘Difficulties maintaining sleep’ [2.7 (1.2–6.2)], and ‘Waking up hastily gasping for breath’ [32.2 (8.7–119.1)]. ‘Dry mouth on awakening’ [7.7 (3.2–18.4)], ‘Waking up unrefreshed’ [2.7 (1.2–6.0)], ‘Excessive daytime sleepiness’ [2.6 (1.1–6.0)], and ‘Daytime nasal obstruction’ [12.2 (4.8–31.2)] were also associated with NON. Persistent nasal obstruction and hay fever were both associated with some reported sleep problems due to an overlap with NON. When women with NON were excluded, only ‘Daytime nasal obstruction’ was still significantly associated with PNO, while hay fever was associated with ‘Daytime nasal obstruction’ and ‘Waking up hastily gasping for breath’. There were no significant differences in objectively measured sleep variables between any of the three subgroups and the study cohort. Self-reported nasal obstruction at night in women has a significant effect on several subjective day- and nighttime symptoms, but it does not appear to affect objectively measured sleep quality.