Association between Allergic Rhinitis, Sleep Quality, and Depression in Patients Attending Public Health Care Facility in Lahore, Pakistan

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR), a chronic allergy disease caused by dust and pollen, causes sneezing and nasal congestion, increasing the risk of mood disorders and negatively impacting mental health, productivity, and sleep, necessitating medication and allergen avoidance for effective treatment. Objective: To determine the association between allergic rhinitis, sleep quality, and depression in patients attending public health facility in Lahore, Pakistan. Method: The cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Services Hospital in Lahore between July and October of 2024. A total of 351 individuals were surveyed about allergic rhinitis, sleep quality, and depressed symptoms using non-probability convenience sampling. The data was analyzed using t-test and chi-square tests. Results: The survey showed that the average age was 32.71 ± 12.478, and the majority (68.9%) was males. According to the present study, 52.7% of patients suffer from allergic rhinitis and 82 (44.3%) and 23 (13.8%) allergic rhinitis (AR) patients reported difficulty sleeping and depression, respectively. Allergic rhinitis (AR) was significantly associated with educational status, sleep difficulty, and depressed symptoms (p-value:0.05). Conclusion: Allergic rhinitis significantly impacts sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms in participants, affecting their overall health. This condition is a significant factor in these symptoms, emphasizing the need for effective therapies to improve sleep and depression among afflicted patients.