Correlation between computed tomography staging and quality of life instruments in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

Abstract

Background: Because chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of the most common health conditions in humans, it is important to assess its impact on quality of life (QoL). This study investigated the relationship between the findings of computed tomography (CT) staging and a patient-based questionnaire for CRS patients in Western China.

Methods: In this prospective study, the Lund-MacKay CT staging system, a visual analog scale (VAS), the 20-Item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-20), and the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) were completed for all preoperative recruits. The patients were classified into several subgroups according to whether CRS was associated with nasal polyps (CRS with nasal polyps [CRSwNPs]) or not (CRS without nasal polyps [CRSsNPs]), sex, duration of disease, and educational background.

Results: A total of 121 patients were recruited. In the total cohort of patients, there were significant correlations between scores on SNOT-20 and SF-36 (r = -0.561; p < 0.01), SNOT-20 and VAS (r = 0.743; p < 0.01), and SF-36 and VAS (r = -0.504; p < 0.01). Significant but weak correlations were found between the CT stage and scores on the patient-based questionnaires in the CRSwNP subgroup (CT versus SNOT-20, r = 0.31 and, p = 0.005; CT versus SF-36, r = -0.358 and p = 0.002; CT versus VAS, r = 0.358 and p = 0.002). The CT stage did not correlate with the scores in the patient-based questionnaires in the total cohort of patients. However, the CT stage was higher in the CRSwNP subgroup than in the CRSsNP, but QoL was better in the CRSwNP subgroup than in the CRSsNP subgroup. The two groups differed on the Lund-MacKay stage and the SNOT-20 and VAS scores (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The scores on patient-based questionnaires such as the SNOT-20, SF-36, and VAS correlate with each other. The CT stage correlated weakly but significantly with the scores in the patient-based questionnaires only in the CRSwNP subgroup. The presence of nasal polyps was not associated with poor QoL in CRS patients.