Open AccessClinical effects of intranasal corticosteroids on nasal symptoms in subjects with chronic rhinitis during COVID-19
Author(s) -
Can Tüzer,
Pelin Karadağ,
Ozan Yegit,
Deniz Eyice Karabacak,
Nida Öztop,
Ali Can,
Semra Demir,
Raif Coşkun,
Derya Ünal,
Müge Olgaç,
Suna Büyüköztürk,
Bahattin Çolakoğlu,
Aslı Gelincik
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
allergy and asthma proceedings
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.643
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1539-6304
pISSN - 1088-5412
DOI - 10.2500/aap.2022.43.210116
Subject(s) - medicine , visual analogue scale , nasal administration , covid-19 , nose , nasal lavage , gastroenterology , severity of illness , anesthesia , disease , immunology , surgery , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Background: The clinical effects of intranasal corticosteroids (INC) on nasal symptoms and the clinical course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in subjects with chronic rhinitis (CR) seem unclear. Objective: To evaluate the clinical effects of INCs on nasal symptoms in subjects with CR and with COVID-19. Methods: In subjects with CR and diagnosed with COVID-19 at four tertiary centers, quality of life and nasal symptoms were assessed by using the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and the visual analog scale (VAS), respectively. In subjects with allergic rhinitis, nasal symptoms were also assessed on the total symptom score-6 (TSS-6) scale. The subjects were then allocated into two groups according to whether or not they used INCs while infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (group 1 and group 2, respectively). The subjects in group 2 were divided into two subgroups according to the use of antihistamines and/or leukotriene receptor antagonist or not (group 2a and group 2b, respectively). All the scores were compared before and during COVID-19 among the three groups. Results: A total of 71 subjects (21 in group 1, 24 in group 2a, and 26 in group 2b) were enrolled. The total scores of the SNOT-22 increased remarkably in all the groups during the infection when compared with the pre-COVID-19 scores (p < 0.001 in each group). However, the difference between the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 values revealed a lower decrease in the senses of smell and/or taste in group 1 than in group 2a and group 2b (p = 0.015, adjusted p = 0.045; and p = 0.001, adjusted p = 0.002, respectively). There were no significant differences in other COVID-19 findings, VAS, and TSS-6 scores among the groups (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: INCs in subjects with CR seemed protective against the decrease in smell and/or taste observed during COVID-19 and do not aggravate the clinical course of COVID-19.