Health-related quality of life in adult rhinitis: The role of perceived control of disease

Background: Factors affecting health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adult rhinitis have not been well described. Objective: To understand how symptom severity, physical functioning, psychological distress, and perceived control of disease relate to HRQOL in a population-based sample of adults with rhinitis. Methods: We conducted telephone interviews in 109 adults with rhinitis recruited via random digit dialing. We assessed HRQOL by using the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index, physical functioning by using the physical component score of the Short Form-12, and psychological distress by using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. To evaluate the role of patient-perceived control of disease in rhinitis, we developed a new 8-item instrument, the Perceived Control of Rhinitis Questionnaire. Results: Lower HRQOL correlated with greater symptom severity (r = 0.57), poorer physical functioning (r = -0.41), greater psychological distress (r = 0.44), and less perceived control (r = -0.53). In a multivariate model, symptom severity (P < .001), psychological distress (P < .001), and perceived control (P < .001) were all independent predictors of HRQOL. Adding functional and psychosocial measures to a base model with demographics and disease severity explained an additional 26% of variance in HRQOL. Conclusions: Although disease severity is an important factor in HRQOL, psychosocial factors, such as perceived control of disease, explain a substantial amount of the variability in HRQOL among adults with rhinitis.