Impact of Help-Seeking Behaviors on Allergic Rhinitis and Mental Health: A Longitudinal Study

QHSLab, Inc.200,000 enrolled

Overview

This study explores how help-seeking behaviors for both emotional well-being and allergies impact the management of allergic rhinitis, asthma, and mental health symptoms, including anxiety and depression. The research involves a retrospective and longitudinal analysis of patients who sought treatment for allergic rhinitis and mental health concerns. The goal is to highlight the importance of integrating mental health care into allergy treatment plans to improve overall patient outcomes.

This study aims to investigate the impact of help-seeking behaviors (HSB) on allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma control, and mental health outcomes, such as anxiety and depression, using both retrospective and longitudinal data. The study examines patients who have been diagnosed with AR and mental health conditions to assess how seeking professional help for allergies, emotional well-being, or both influences symptom control and quality of life. The research analyzes data from a diverse patient population to evaluate the effects of AR medications (intranasal steroids, antihistamines, decongestants, and leukotriene blockers) on both AR and mental health symptoms. Additionally, it explores the role of help-seeking behaviors in improving symptom management, specifically through the use of validated tools like the SNOT-22 for AR and the PHQ-GAD16 for mental health. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating mental health screening and support into the treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma. By analyzing real-world data, the research seeks to provide insights into how coordinated care approaches can enhance patient outcomes and inform future clinical practices.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

200,000

Conditions

Mental Health Conditions Allergic

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: Adults (aged 18 years or older) Patients actively receiving care in a primary care setting. Patients who have provided informed consent for their health data to be included in the research repository. Exclusion Criteria: Patients who have not provided informed consent for their health data to be included in the research repository. Patients diagnosed with chronic conditions outside the scope of allergic rhinitis, asthma, or mental health conditions (anxiety, depression). Patients with severe mental health disorders or comorbidities that are unrelated to the conditions of interest (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc.).

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Allergic Rhinitis Symptom Severity (SNOT-22 Score)

This outcome measures the long-term change in allergic rhinitis symptom severity over several years using the Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). The SNOT-22 is a validated tool that assesses the impact of sinonasal conditions on quality of life. The study will track the effects of help-seeking behaviors for both allergies and mental health (anxiety and depression) on allergic rhinitis symptom control, examining changes in SNOT-22 scores over multiple follow-up periods. Scores range from 0 to 110, with higher scores indicating worse symptoms and lower quality of life.

Time frame: baseline and yearly follow-up for up to 5 years

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Depression Symptoms (PHQ-9 Score)

This outcome measures the change in depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 is a validated tool to assess the severity of depression. Scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms. The study will assess how help-seeking behaviors for both allergies and mental health impact the severity of depressive symptoms over time.

Time frame: Baseline and yearly follow-up for up to 5 years

Change in Anxiety Symptoms (GAD-7 Score)

This outcome measures the change in anxiety symptoms using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). The GAD-7 is a validated tool to assess the severity of anxiety. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety symptoms. The study will assess how help-seeking behaviors for both allergies and mental health impact the severity of anxiety symptoms over time.