Short-term quality of life assessment after sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis

• Published in: Laryngo- rhino- otologie Vol. 103; no. 10; p. 715
• Main Authors: Plath, Michaela Maria, Sand, Matthias, Gruchlik, Mark-Philip, Cavaliere, Carlo, Friauf, Sara, Plinkert, Peter, Plath, Karim, Baumann, Ingo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.10.2024
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Chronic Disease; Endoscopy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Germany; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications - psychology; Quality of Life - psychology; Rhinitis - psychology; Rhinitis - surgery; Rhinosinusitis; Sino-Nasal Outcome Test; Sinusitis - psychology; Sinusitis - surgery; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; Germany
• ISSN: 1438-8685
• DOI: 10.1055/a-2306-2702

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has a negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is the treatment of choice for those not responding to medical treatments. To date, the short-term effects of FESS on HRQoL are still unclear. Evaluation of the short-term effects of FESS on HRQoL in CRS patients using the SNOT-22 questionnaire. The results of the validated German version of the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) questionnaire were analysed from 89 patients with CRS before surgery and 10-14 days (n = 77), four (n = 77), six weeks (n = 76) and 6 months (n = 71) after FESS, and compared with those of 1,000 healthy controls selected using a non-probability quota sample in accordance to the distribution of the German Microcensus. Compared to the preoperative mean SNOT-22 score (47.35), CRS patients significantly improved in HRQoL 10-14 days (31.75, p < 0.01), 4 weeks (25.84, p < 0.01), 6 weeks (24.16, p < 0.01) and 6 months after FESS (27.16, p < 0.01). Pre- and 6 months postoperatively, the five most important SNOT-22 items were nasal obstruction, smell and taste reduction, thick, mucous nasal secretions, need to blow the nose and postnasal drip. At the 2, 4 and 6-week follow-up, the reduction in smell and taste was most frequently perceived as limiting the HRQoL. This follow-up study shows for the first time that the reduction in smell and taste should be treated and controlled concervatively in the short term after FESS.