ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ALLERGIC RHINITIS AND GRADE POINT AVERAGE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS AT BAITURRAHMAH UNIVERSITY: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF QUALITY OF LIFE

Manisa Ingka Aulia; Irwan Triansyah; Sri Wahyuni; Yanti Fitri Yasa; Ade Teti Vani; Nadia Purnama Dewi

doi:10.59003/nhj.v6i2.2239

Authors

Manisa Ingka Aulia Universitas Baiturrahmah
Irwan Triansyah Universitas Baiturrahmah
Sri Wahyuni Universitas Baiturrahmah
Yanti Fitri Yasa Universitas Baiturrahmah
Ade Teti Vani Universitas Baiturrahmah
Nadia Purnama Dewi Universitas Baiturrahmah

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59003/nhj.v6i2.2239

Keywords:

Allergic rhinitis; Quality of life; Grade Point Average; SFAR; RQLQ; Medical students; Academic performance

Abstract

Introduction: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract and substantially affects patients' quality of life. Persistent symptoms, including nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and nasal itching, may impair sleep quality, reduce concentration, and negatively influence cognitive performance. Among medical students, these conditions may interfere with academic activities and ultimately affect academic achievement, as reflected by the Grade Point Average (GPA). Nevertheless, evidence regarding the relationship between allergic rhinitis and academic performance among Indonesian medical students remains limited. Methods: An analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted among medical students of the Faculty of Medicine, Baiturrahmah University, class of 2023. Participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Allergic rhinitis was assessed using the Score for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR) questionnaire, while quality of life was evaluated using the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ). GPA data were obtained from the participants' academic records. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test with statistical significance established at p < 0.05. Results: A statistically significant association was observed between allergic rhinitis status and quality of life. Students with allergic rhinitis experienced poorer quality of life than those without allergic rhinitis. Quality of life was also significantly associated with GPA, indicating that students with impaired quality of life tended to have lower academic achievement. Furthermore, allergic rhinitis demonstrated an indirect association with GPA through its detrimental impact on quality of life. Conclusion: Allergic rhinitis is significantly associated with reduced quality of life among medical students, and impaired quality of life is related to lower academic achievement.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abdelhafeez, M. (2022) ‘Effectiveness of intranasal steroids on rhinitis symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis’, European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 279(1). doi: 10.1007/s00405-021-06818-1.

Almalki, Z. A. et al. (2023) ‘The Prevalence and Impact of Allergic Rhinitis on Academic Performance and Quality of Life Among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia’, Cureus. doi: 10.7759/cureus.42342.

Choi, B. Y. et al. (2021) ‘Genetics and epigenetics in allergic rhinitis’, Genes. doi: 10.3390/genes12122004.

Chong, S. N. and Chew, F. T. (2018) ‘Epidemiology of allergic rhinitis and associated risk factors in Asia’, World Allergy Organization Journal. doi: 10.1186/s40413-018-0198-z.

Al Khalaf, A. B. et al. (2025) ‘The Impact of Allergic Rhinitis on the Quality of Life Among Adult Patients in Alahsa, Saudi Arabia: A Case-Control Study’, Cureus. doi: 10.7759/cureus.87733.

Kitsos, N., Michoula, A. and Grivea, I. (2025) ‘Quality of Patient Information on Allergic Rhinitis in Children on the Internet’, Children. doi: 10.3390/children12111432.

Nisa, D. and Amaliah, M. (2022) ‘GAMBARAN DUGAAN KEJADIAN RINITIS ALERGI BERDASARKAN EVALUASI GEJALA KLINIS PADA MAHASISWA FAKULTAS KEDOKTERAN UNIVERSITAS TARUMANAGARA ANGKATAN 2019-2020’, Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan Bhakti Husada: Health Sciences Journal, 13(02). doi: 10.34305/jikbh.v13i02.645.

Nur Husna, S. M. et al. (2022) ‘Allergic Rhinitis: A Clinical and Pathophysiological Overview’, Frontiers in Medicine. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.874114.

Ozoh, O. B. et al. (2025) ‘Health-related quality of life in asthma measured by the World Health Organization brief questionnaire (WHO-BREF) and the effect of concomitant allergic rhinitis—A population-based study’, Clinical Respiratory Journal, 19(3). doi: 10.1111/crj.13608.

Pratidina, D. Y. et al. (2025) ‘Hubungan Antara Rhinitis Alergi Dengan Kualitas Hidup Mahasiswa Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Negeri Gorontalo’, Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan, 15(4).

Ramdhani, D., Daniller, T. and Seedat, R. Y. (2021) ‘Quality of life of patients with allergic rhinitis at a South African referral hospital: a prospective cross-sectional study’, Pan African Medical Journal, 40. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2021.40.193.28714.

Rosenfield, L. et al. (2024) ‘Allergic rhinitis’, Allergy, Asthma, and Clinical Immunology : Official Journal of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 20(Suppl 3), p. 74. doi: 10.1186/S13223-024-00923-6.

Seedat, R. Y. et al. (2018) ‘Allergic rhinitis in medical students at the University of the Free State’, South African Family Practice, 60(4). doi: 10.1080/20786190.2018.1437869.

Sultész, M. et al. (2020) ‘Prevalence of allergic rhinitis, related comorbidities and risk factors in schoolchildren’, Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, 16(1). doi: 10.1186/s13223-020-00495-1.

Terada, T. and Kawata, R. (2022) ‘Diagnosis and Treatment of Local Allergic Rhinitis’, Pathogens. doi: 10.3390/pathogens11010080.

Triansyah, I., Amran, R., et al. (2023) ‘Penyuluhan Presbikusis pada Lansia Diabetesi di Puskesmas Andalas Padang’, Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Kesehatan(JURABDIKES), 1(2). doi: 10.56260/jurabdikes.v1i2.120.

Triansyah, I., Lesdamiati, Vani, A. T., et al. (2023) ‘Rhinitis Alergika pada Dewasa Muda di Rumah Sakit Siti Rahmah Padang: Case Report’, Scientific Journal, 2(4), pp. 161–165. doi: 10.56260/SCIENA.V2I4.119.

Triansyah, I., Lesdamiati, Teti Vani, A., et al. (2023) ‘Rhinitis Alergika pada Dewasa Muda di Rumah Sakit Siti Rahmah Padang: Case Report’, Scientific Journal, 2(4). doi: 10.56260/sciena.v2i4.119.

Vieira, R. J. et al. (2022) ‘Academic Productivity of Young People With Allergic Rhinitis: A MASK-air Study’, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 10(11). doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2022.08.015.