Methods: Raw data of their academic achievements, ISAAC and QOL questionnaires were collected from 662 students from 4 middle and high schools in Seoul, South Korea. Depending on academic achievements, which were categorized into high, middle, and low, cross analysis was performed. The correlation between the rating of students’ quality of life and the percentile of their academic achievements were analyzed.
Results: There was no significant difference between the rhinitis group and the normal group in terms of total score, sum of math and science, and English; however, high school rhinitis students who had received treatments over the last 12 months had significantly high Korean language scores. Female rhinitis students showed the highest prevalence, especially those who scored high on Korean language. In addition, high school students who had been treated over the past 12 months showed a significantly high prevalence, especially those with high Korean language scores. There are significant positive correlations between quality of life represented by physical fitness index and the percentiles for the following subjects: math and science.
Conclusions: This result contradicts the other research results that support the correlation between allergic rhinitis and low academic achievement. However, considering other research results on how one’s academic achievement can represent social status, it is possible to assume that allergic rhinitis is seen more often among people with high social status.