The Efficacy of Elonide Nasal Corticosteroids in Managing Allergic Rhinitis: A Randomized, Double-Blinded Trial

Background: Mometasone furoate nasal spray is efficacious in relieving allergic rhinitis symptoms. The objectives of this study were, firstly, to compare the efficacy of Elonide to Nasonex® and a placebo and secondly, to investigate the side effects of Elonide. Method: This was a prospective, single-centered, double blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority trial. A total of 163 participants from the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), were randomized into three treatment groups receiving Elonide (n = 56), Nasonex® (n = 54), and placebo (n = 53) nasal sprays using an online randomizer (Random.org). Treatment was administered for 4 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the Total Nasal Resistance (TNR), and the secondary outcomes were the Visual Analogue Score (VAS) and the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQOLQ) score. Side effects were recorded. Results: There were significant improvements for all groups from baseline. The Elonide group had the greatest mean difference for all primary and secondary outcomes compared to Nasonex® and the placebo (0.77 ± 2.44 vs. 0.35 ± 1.16, p = 1.00 vs. 0.17 ± 0.82, p = 0.01). Elonide is non-inferior to Nasonex (p = 1.00) and superior to the placebo (p < 0.05). The highest side effects reported were for Nasonex (n = 14, 26%), followed by the placebo (n = 8, 16%) and Elonide (n = 6, 12%); headaches (n = 9, 17%) and sore throat (n = 9, 17%) were the most common. Conclusions: Elonide has similar efficacy to Nasonex® when compared to a placebo in the treatment of AR in adults. Elonide is safe and tolerable, with fewer side effects and no adverse side effects.

Malay Version of Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire and Quality of Life of Patients with Post-lingual Deafness

Objective

The Nijmegen Cochlear Implant questionnaire (NCIQ) was used to gauge the quality of life (QOL) improvement among cochlear implant (CI) users who suffered from post-lingual deafness. This study aimed to determine the consistency and reliability of the Malay version of the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant questionnaire (NCIQ-M) and to report the QOL of patients using NCIQ-M.

Methods

This study has two phases: Phase I involves the translation of the NCIQ from English to Malay, followed by internal consistency and test-retest reliability assessment of the final version of NCIQ-M. Phase II involves QOL assessment of post-lingual deafness using NCIQ-M.

Results

Twenty CI users and 20 non-CI users answered the NCIQ-M. Test-retest reliability analysis of the NCIQ-M was performed using an intraclass correlation coefficient, achieving scores of more than 0.85. Internal consistency was analysed with Cronbach α of more than 0.70 in all subdomains. Scores between the two groups of subjects were analyzed using an independent sample t-test. Good internal consistency, intraclass correlation, and test-retest reliability were obtained. Scores in all six subdomains of the NCIQ-M are significantly higher in the CI user group than in the non-CI user group.

Conclusions

The NCIQ-M is a consistent and reliable subjective questionnaire to determine the QOL of CI users concerning physical, psychological, and social functioning.