Objectives/hypothesis: To determine the effect of topical intranasal oxymetazoline on nasal resistance and aerobic exercise performance in patients with nasal congestion caused by inferior turbinate hypertrophy.
Study design: Individual randomized controlled trial.
Methods: Eight patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy performed a set of exercise tests to exhaustion 1 week apart. They were given oxymetazoline or a placebo before each of the two test sessions according to a random pattern. Changes in nasal airflow were measured as peak nasal flow and ventilatory efficiency parameters, ventilatory equivalents, end-expiratory pressure, oxygen consumption, cardiac efficiency, rate of perceived exertion, and maximal and submaximal mechanical power.
Results: Ten minutes after use of the drug or placebo, improvements in maximum nasal airflow were seen in the oxymetazoline group (P < 0.05). However, exercise tests showed improvements in both groups (P < 0.05). After exertion, there was no difference between the two groups in maximum nasal airflow (P > 0.05). There were no differences between groups in oxygen consumption, rate of perceived exertion, respiratory exchange ratio, ventilation, or ventilatory equivalents for oxygen.
Conclusion: Oxymetazoline increased nasal airflow in patients with turbinate hypertrophy, but this change did not translate into gains in physical exercise parameters or perceived exertion.
Level of evidence: 1b.
Keywords: Turbinate; oxymetazoline; physical exercise; rhinitis.
© 2014 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.