The severity of allergic rhinitis is often overlooked and undertreated as a major component of chronic disease. Evidence suggests that poorly managed allergic rhinitis can result in otitis media, sinusitis, and the development of asthma. The direct costs to the healthcare system for allergic rhinitis alone are estimated at over $6 billion annually, according to statistics provided by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. The Congestion Quantifier (CQ 7), a screening tool developed by Stull and colleagues to detect congestion, may help patients with severe respiratory illness recognize congestion symptoms and seek treatment before serious exacerbations occur.

Although patients may recognize they have congestion, they may not realize the potential for serious co-morbidities without proper management of symptoms. Case managers who attend this poster presentation will learn how to integrate the Congestion Quantifier into practice. They will also have an opportunity to evaluate practice applications, based on reviewing previously published survey results from a 2005 study that included 284 patients and 70 control subjects recruited from 49 sites across the U.S. In this study, the CQ 7 was validated to discriminate between controls, patients, and different levels of severity of allergic rhinitis symptoms including nasal congestion.

The use of this simple tool can help providers and patients work together to better identify allergic rhinitis and to implement optimal treatment modalities using both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription (Rx) medications. Managed care organizations can adopt the CQ as an educational tool for participating providers. Using this tool can potentially improve patient outcomes, decrease serious disease exacerbations, and decrease the overall cost of care.