Quality of life and associated factors in persons with chronic rhinosinusitis in the general population: a prospective questionnaire and clinical cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: The European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps describes methods to perform population-based and clinical studies on chronic rhinosinusitis in a standardised way, and it also describes how to clinical investigate CRS. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate quality of life and objective findings in persons with chronic rhinosinusitis recruited from the general population.

Design: As part of a trans-European study, selected respondents to a survey questionnaire were invited for a clinical visit. Subjective symptoms and rhinoscopy were used for the clinical diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis, and persons with and without chronic rhinosinusitis were compared.

Setting: This research took place in the department of Otolaryngology, Odense University Hospital.

Participants: A total of 366 persons participated at the clinical visit, and of these, 91 were diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis, 271 without chronic rhinosinusitis and four persons were excluded.

Main outcome measures: Severity of symptoms and disease-specific quality of life were measured using the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22, and generic quality of life was measured using European quality of life - 5 dimensions including an index score and a visual analogue scale.

Results: The prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis was 9%, and the prevalence of polyps was 4%. Persons with chronic rhinosinusitis had significantly reduced disease-specific quality of life (P = 0.00) and generic quality of life (P = 0.04 and 0.01) compared with persons without chronic rhinosinusitis. Having chronic rhinosinusitis was correlated to age, allergic rhinitis and smell.

Conclusion: This study gives insight into health-related quality of life and objective findings in persons with chronic rhinosinusitis recruited from the general population.