Assessing the quality of life for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis using the "Rhinosinusitis Disability Index"

Abstract

Quality of life studies are increasingly being use as the primary outcome measure in chronic rhinosinusitis. The Rhinosinusitis Disability Index (RSDI) is a recently designed validated measure that has not been used in clinical studies. We have used the RSDI on 53 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and compared the results to their endoscopic score and self-rated symptom score. Our data showed that the mean total quality of life score was 42 with a range of 5 to 69 (SD 17). The means of the functional, emotional and physical domains were 13 (range 0 to 27, SD 6), 13 (range 0 to 25, SD 7) and 16 (range of 2 to 32, SD of 7) respectively. There was no correlation between endoscopic score and either the patient's self-rated symptom score or RSDI score. The correlation between the self-rated symptom score and total quality of life score was significant (p = 0.02). Various areas of the patients' quality of life were shown to be affected by chronic rhinosinusitis.