Nasal decongestant proven to improve quality of life in first-of-its-kind study
According to the company, nasal congestion or a blocked nose is considered the most bothersome symptom of a common cold by the majority of people, impacting overall mood and wellbeing.
Haleon’s study administered the medication to patients, taking place over 7 days in the UK and involving 102 participants.
Quality of life (QoL) measures were assessed using the validated Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey-21 tool, with additional QoL questions added.
Nasal congestion improved ‘significantly’ from day 1 of the study and strongly correlated with breathing easily after use of Otrivin, the company said.
In addition, overall QoL scores improved by 70% after the last Otrivin dose compared to baseline.
Haleon also reported 70% improvement in sleep quality, vitality, and physical activity measures and 80% improvement in social activity and sensation after the last dose versus baseline.
Dr Pranab Kalita, global medical leader at Haleon, said: “The common cold is more than just nasal congestion, it impacts overall well-being and quality of life. This is the first study to assess real-life benefits of treating nasal congestion during the common cold with nasal decongestant.
"It confirms not only the effectiveness of xylometazoline hydrochloride 0.1% (Otrivin) in treating nasal congestion during common cold but also demonstrates the significant improvement in overall well-being and quality of life resulting from treatment.”
These findings come as recent figures show that this winter has seen a steep rise in UK hospital admissions and cases of cold and flu, with the NHS reporting 2,226 patients with flu in hospital each day in the first week of February, compared to 1,290 last year.
Fernando Bodalo, VP and global brand lead respiratory at Haleon, added: “Our purpose at Haleon is to deliver better health with humanity. There is no cure for the common cold but there are ways that we can help relieve symptoms. This new real-world study evidences the benefits that products such as Otrivin nasal spray can provide for patients beyond symptom relief.”
