Obstructive Apneas during Sleep in Patients with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis1–3

The possible role of high nasal airway resistance in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea has been examined in 7 patients with seasonal (ragweed) allergic rhinitis, a naturally occurring model of reversible nasal obstruction. Measurements of nasal resistance and overnight Polysomnographic studies were performed during the ragweed season when the patients complained of nasal obstruction; and 6 to 8 wk later when the symptoms had subsided (control study). During the symptomatic phase, mean (± SE) nasal resistance was 4.9 ± 0.8 cm H2O/L/s, and the patients experienced 1.7 ± 0.3 obstructive apneas per hour of sleep. In contrast, at the time of the control study, nasal resistance had decreased to 2.5 ± 0.3 cm H2O/L/s (p < 0.01); and the rate of obstructive apneas had decreased to 0.7 ± 0.4 per hour of sleep (p < 0.005). The duration of these apneas had also decreased from 15.5 ± 0.8 s to 6.1 ± 2.9 s (p < 0.01). Apneas were rarely associated with significant O2 desaturation and were fewer in number than ...