SNOT-22 Questionnaire Research Articles

Is SNOT-22 a Reliable Tool During Periods of High Stress? A Retrospective Cohort Study.

To assess the impact of a major crisis, such as the October 7, 2023, terror attack, on SNOT-22 scores, especially the extra-rhinologic subdomains. This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Rhinology Clinic in a Tertiary University Hospital. Patients who visit our Rhinology Clinic routinely complete the SNOT-22, a widely employed questionnaire designed for evaluating health-related quality of life in individuals with rhinologic conditions. Patients were divided into two groups: 5 weeks before the October 7 terror attack and 5 weeks after. Primary outcomes for analyses included the Sedaghat Subdomain model of the SNOT-22. Descriptive analysis and Welch's t-test were used to compare SNOT-22 subdomain scores between groups. A total of 159 patients completed the SNOT-22 questionnaire, with 60 before and 99 after October 7, 2023. A general decrease in average scores was observed across all subdomains, with a significant decrease in the Nasal subdomain (p = 0.0388). Subgroup analysis showed an increase in the Ear/Facial subdomain in Arabic and the Sleep and Function subdomains in English, though not statistically significant. In sex-based sub-analysis, female patients showed a significant decrease in the Emotions subdomain. Our study was unable to establish a direct link between the terror attack and specific SNOT-22 subdomains. However, the observed trends suggest that SNOT-22 may display variability or unreliability when used during periods of high stress. III Laryngoscope, 2024.

Comparing sinonasal quality of life in pediatric nasal obstruction: Inferior turbinate cauterization vs turbinoplasty – A pilot study

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the impacts of inferior turbinate monopolar submucosal cauterization and microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinoplasty on the sinonasal quality of life in pediatric patients with chronic nasal obstruction. Study designA pilot randomized controlled trial. SettingTertiary hospital. MethodsThis pilot clinical trial enrolled pediatric patients, all of whom had persistent inferior nasal turbinate hypertrophy. They were assigned to undergo either inferior turbinate monopolar submucosal cauterization or microdebrider-assisted turbinoplasty. The procedures were conducted under general anesthesia for both groups. Patient-reported sinonasal symptoms were assessed using the SNOT-22 questionnaire at baseline and during follow-ups. ResultsThe study enrolled 52 pediatric participants aged 4–14 years for turbinate reduction, ending with 40 after follow-up losses. Nineteen underwent cauterization, and 21 had turbinoplasty. Both groups showed significant SNOT-22 score improvements at 1, 3, and 6 months post-surgery, though the turbinoplasty group had initially greater improvements. No significant differences were found in postoperative complications, except a higher malodor sensation incidence at one week in the cauterization group. ConclusionIn conclusion, both monopolar submucosal cautery and microdebrider-assisted turbinoplasty improved sinonasal quality of life in pediatric patients. Monopolar cautery was associated with more early postoperative malodor but may offer potential cost-effectiveness and simplicity. Further research is needed to validate these findings and refine surgical approaches.

Evaluation of Changes in the Patency of the Nasal Cavity and Eustachian Tube Depending on the Phase of the Menstrual Cycle: A Pilot Study.

(1) Background: Estrogen and progesterone, hormones specific to females, undergo fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. The aim of this study was to assess subjective and objective changes in nasal cavity and Eustachian tube patency depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle in two groups of women: those in a follicular phase group and those in a luteal phase group. (2) Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 25 healthy non-pregnant women aged 24 to 32. Based on the phase of the cycle confirmed in sonography, they were divided into follicular phase (FP) and luteal phase (LP) groups. The Eustachian tube and nasal cavity patency examination was carried out using a SNOT-22 Questionnaire, a rhinomanometer, and a tympanometer. (3) Results: We observed that the incidence of nasal obstruction in SNOT-22 was significantly dependent on the cycle phase (p = 0.012) and was lower in the FP compared to the LP. Similar relationships were noticed between the cycle phase and the rhinomanometry outcome, where the LP was associated with a lower flow. We also revealed that the incidence of ear blockage significantly depended on the cycle phase (p = 0.001) and was lower in the FP compared to the LP. Women whose nasal patency deteriorated during the LP also had more negative pressure values in tympanometry. We observed that patients with negative PEAK L and R levels had a lower flow in rhinomanometry. (4) Conclusions: The results highlight the menstrual cycle's substantial impact on both subjective and objective nasal and Eustachian tube patency measurements. The novel finding in this study is that women whose nasal patency deteriorated during the luteal phase also had more negative pressure values in tympanometry. These results suggest that the deterioration of hearing during the menstrual cycle could be a result of swelling of the nasal mucosa and tubes.

Translation, adaptation, and validation of ASK nasal-12 into Brazilian Portuguese

ObjectiveTranslate, adapt, and validate the Anterior Skull Base Nasal Inventory 12 questionnaire (ASK Nasal-12) to Brazilian Portuguese. MethodsA prospective longitudinal observational study was developed at the Skull Base Surgery Center clinic of the Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo. There were five stages to translating the original ASK-12 questionnaire: two independent translations, consensus between the two, back-translation, comparison, and revision for the semi-final version. Internal consistency, reliability, and validation with a previous already validate questionnaire were all assessed. ResultsOver 30 months 72 patients in total were included in the study, of which six had to be excluded afterwards according to the research criteria. The internal consistency using Cronbach’s Alpha was calculated and successful. Next the reliability and agreement between the test and retest were analyzed. The Minimally Important Clinical Difference (MCID) was calculated for the 13 scores at each of the four time points. Finally, the final translated version was validated with the SNOT-22 questionnaire. ConclusionThe translation, adaptation, and validation of the ASK Nasal-12 questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese appear consistent and effective regarding its cultural equivalence for monitoring the QOL of patients undergoing transnasal access for endoscopic anterior skull base surgeries. Level of evidenceII.

A RESPONSE to comorbid patients: Study protocol

BackgroundChronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP) and Severe Asthma (SA) are two frequently co-existing conditions that are, in most cases, associated with eosinophilic inflammation. The concurrence of both diseases has a negative synergistic impact on disease severity and patients’ Health Related Quality of Life. Thus, a holistic, collaborative management of these patients is a critical unmet need. Mepolizumab, a systemic anti-IL-5 therapy, has been shown to be effective as an add-on treatment in both SA and CRSwNP, with more literature available on asthma outcomes than on CRSwNP. MethodsRESPONSE is a European, real-world, prospective, cohort study designed to assess the effectiveness of mepolizumab in two cohorts of adult patients: one with SA as primary diagnosis with (secondary diagnosed) comorbid CRSwNP, and another with CRSwNP as primary diagnosis with (secondary diagnosed) comorbid asthma. Up to 350 patients newly prescribed mepolizumab will be followed up for 12 months as per the investigators’ standard of care. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of mepolizumab in improving the HRQoL of comorbid patients at 12 months, using the SNOT-22 questionnaire. Secondary objectives include safety and efficacy outcomes of mepolizumab treatment in the two populations, which are expected to have variable severity of the respective comorbid conditions. ConclusionThis study will report the effects of anti-IL-5 therapy in both diseases investigated and the respective comorbidity, as well as the consequence of treating milder forms of asthma and CRSwNP with mepolizumab, supporting the emerging evidence on early treatment optimization.

TAS2R38 Genotype Does Not Affect SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia.

Several chronic respiratory diseases could be risk factors for acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection: among them, Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare (about 1:10.000) inherited ciliopathy (MIM 242650) characterized by recurrent upper and lower respiratory tract infections due to a dysfunction of the respiratory cilia. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether PCD subjects are more susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2 and whether some polymorphisms of the TAS2R38 bitter taste receptor correlate with an increased prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and severity of symptoms. Patients answered several questions about possible SARS-CoV-2 infection, experienced symptoms, and vaccinations; in the case of infection, they also filled out a SNOT-22 questionnaire and ARTIQ. Forty PCD adult patients (mean age, 36.6 ± 16.7 years; 23 females, 17 males) participated in this study, out of which 30% had tested positive for COVID-19 during the last four years; most of them reported a mildly symptomatic disease. We found no differences in age or sex, but a statistically significant difference (p = 0.03) was observed in body mass index (BMI), which was higher in the COVID-acquired group (23.2 ± 3.3 vs. 20.1 ± 4.1 kg/m2). Genotyping for TAS2R38 polymorphisms showed a prevalence of 28.6% PAV/PAV, 48.6% PAV/AVI, and 22.8% AVI/AVI individuals in our cohort. In contrast to our hypothesis, we did not observe a protective role of the PAV allele towards SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that subjects with PCD may not be at increased risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 and the TAS2R38 bitter taste receptor genotype does not affect SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Assessment of Quality of Life after Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Abstract Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis is the most common otolaryngologic disease that has a great impact on patient’s quality of life. Patients refractory to medical therapy require functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). Aim: To evaluate and compare the disease specific quality of life in patients of chronic rhinosinusitis pre operatively and after FESS using the Sino Nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT 22). Patients and Methods: This prospective longitudinal study was conducted on 30 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. History, clinical, diagnostic sinonasal endoscopy and radiological findings were recorded. For assessing the quality of life, the SNOT-22 questionnaire was used preoperatively and after 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after undergoing FESS. Results: About 43.3% of the patients were males and 56.7% were females. Seventy percentage were between 18 and 30 years. Nasal obstruction was the most common presenting symptom (96.6%), followed by nasal discharge (80%). Diagnostic sinonasal endoscopy and non-contrast computed tomography scan of paranasal sinuses reflected the extent of the disease. The mean pre-operative SNOT-22 score was 40.4 ± 12.06 and a decrease in mean post-operatives scores was observed during their post-operative visits at 1 week (11.77 ± 3.39), 1 month (4.67 ± 2.77) and 3 months (2.47 ± 1.28) which were statistically significant. Conclusion: Chronic rhinosinusitis patient’s refractory to medical treatment showed statistically significant improvement in their quality of life after undergoing FESS.

Treatment Outcome Post Endoscopic Sinus Surgery(ESS) in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of the most prevalent conditions in medicine causing a considerable amount of healthcare expenditure. This study was performed to clinically diagnose chronic rhinosinusitis with or without polyps and to measure the intensity of patients' symptoms and treatment outcomes. This was a prospective cohort study, which included 70 patients diagnosed with CRS according to the EPOS-2012 and were given SNOT-22 questionnaire preoperatively, which was repeated on 1st, 4th, and 12th weeks post-op to determine the treatment outcome. Patients were divided into three groups according to their predominant histopathological features and the treatment outcomes were assessed based on SNOT-22 scoring system. According to our study, ESS effectively raised the quality of life for CRS patients, and one week after surgery, there was a significant improvement in total symptoms (from 49.01 ± 14.83 to 21.91 ± 8.88). it was noted that there was a decrease in SNOT-22 scores at various intervals from baseline to week 12. The four subscales of the SNOT-22 test (rhinological symptoms, ear and facial symptoms, sleep function, and psychological difficulties) showed significant improvements in quality of life across all groups, and this relationship extended beyond the relationship with rhinological symptoms. These improvements were statistically significant after three months of post operative medical therapy. SNOT-22 is determined to be reliable and convenient to use. After ESS, all of the symptoms in our study showed a drop in SNOT-22 scores from week 1 to week 12, indicating an improvement in overall symptoms. Therefore, it can be used to monitor the success of surgical intervention in addition to medicinal therapy.

A Case study on Ayurvedic management of Deviated nasal septum

Deviated nasal septum(DNS) is a relatively prevalent disorder that can cause obstructive sleep apnea, migraine, sinusitis, epistaxis, and nasal blockage in moderate to severe cases. Patients suffering from DNS switch to alternate therapies due to return of symptoms. Peenasam or Nasanaah resembles the clinical signs of DNS. Our study's objective was to ascertain whether traditional Viddha karma can serve as an additional therapeutic option in case of DNS by lowering the patients' current symptoms, medication dependence without the need of surgery for relief of symptoms. Viddha Karma has been used to cure adults for symptoms brought on by DNS ,sinusitis, hypertrophied turbinates .This article describes a 16-year-old male patient who had three Viddha sessions over the course of a week on alternate days for his hypertrophied turbinates and deviated nasal septum. The Snot-22 questionnaire and lab investigations showed improvement. The functional outcome was achieved in patient along with Nasya and some Ayurvedic medicines. Viddha karma, along with Nasya and Ayurvedic medicines has been shown to be highly effective in treating symptoms.

Detection of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the nasal cavities and evaluation of sinus disorders in patients undergoing Le Fort I osteotomy

IntroductionOrthognathic surgery can lead to sinus alterations, including sinusitis, attributed to the exposure of maxillary sinuses during Le Fort I osteotomy. Furthermore, being a hospital-based procedure, there is potential risk of complications arising from bacteria prevalent in such environments. This study evaluated maxillary sinusitis occurrence and the presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the nasal cavity before and after orthognathic surgery.MethodsTen patients with dentofacial deformities underwent Le Fort I osteotomy. Clinical evaluations using SNOT-22 questionnaire were performed, and nasal cavity samples were collected pre-surgery and 3–6 months post-surgery to quantify total mesophilic bacteria and detect Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) was performed pre- and post-operatively, and the results were evaluated using the Lund-Mackay system. This study was registered and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of PUCRS (No. 4.683.066).ResultsThe evaluation of SNOT-22 revealed that five patients showed an improvement in symptoms, while two remained in the same range of interpretation. One patient developed post-operative maxillary sinusitis, which was not detected at the time of evaluation by SNOT-22 or CBCT. CBCT showed a worsening sinus condition in three patients, two of whom had a significant increase in total bacteria count in their nasal cavities. The Brodsky scale was used to assess hypertrophy in palatine tonsils, where 60% of the subjects had grade 1 tonsils, 20% had grade 2 and 20% had grade 3. None of the patients had grade 4 tonsils, which would indicate more than 75% obstruction. Two patients harboured S. aureus and K. pneumoniae in their nasal cavities. Notably, K. pneumoniae, which was multidrug-resistant, was present in the nasal cavity of patients even before surgery, but this did not result in maxillary sinusitis, likely due to the patients’ young and healthy condition.ConclusionThere was an improvement in signs and symptoms of maxillary sinusitis and quality of life in most patients after orthognathic surgery. However, some patients may still harbour multidrug-resistant bacteria, even if they are asymptomatic. Therefore, a thorough pre-operative assessment is essential to avoid difficult-to-treat post-operative complications.

Objective Measurements of Nasal Obstruction and Eustachian Tube Function in Pregnant Women.

Background: Hormonal changes during pregnancy have a substantial effect on the swelling of the mucous membrane in the nasal cavity, resulting in rhinitis and Eustachian tube dysfunction. The aim of the study was to assess subjective and objective changes in nasal cavity and Eustachian tube patency in the third trimester of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: The study group included fifty 18-41 year-old women in the third trimester of pregnancy. The control group consisted of 25 females aged 25 to 31 who were not pregnant. The Eustachian tube and nasal cavity patency examination was carried out using a rhinomanometer, a tympanometer and a SNOT-22 Questionnaire. Results: The SNOT-22 showed that subjective nasal obstruction was assessed as strong or worse by 42% of the study group, which was significantly higher than in the control group and confirmed with rhinomanometry. A total of 68% of the study group reported a subjective ear fullness which correlated with the week of pregnancy. The tympanometry showed that all pregnant women exhibited a type A tympanogram, but tympanometry values decreased at higher weeks of pregnancy, and statistical analysis confirmed a significant difference between the study group and the control group in tympanometry for both ears. Conclusions: The results highlight the substantial impact on both subjective and objective measurements of nasal and Eustachian tube patency. Almost every woman in the third trimester of pregnancy experiences nasal obstruction, and nearly 70% struggle with ear fullness. Recognizing and addressing these challenges are pivotal for ensuring the well-being of pregnant individuals and enhancing the quality of antenatal care.

Results of a survey on the current management of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in Germany

With a prevalence of 0.55% to 4%, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a relevant part of the daily work of German otolaryngologists. The aim of the questionnaire-based data collection was to assess the current treatment status of CRSwNP in Germany. For this purpose, 24 questions within an anonymized online questionnaire were sent to all German ENT departments. Of 160 contacted ENT departments, 50 participated in the survey (31.3%). Among these, 76% performed more than 100 sinus surgeries annually and 38% treated more than 50 patients with biologics. Saline irrigations (80%) and intranasal glucocorticoids (GCS, 96%) were the most common conservative therapies. Systemic GCSs (52%) and intranasal GCS irrigation (20%) were less common. 80% of departments used biologics in the therapy of CRSwNP with an overall preference for dupilumab (70%). For therapy of aspirin intolerance, biologics (52%) were preferred to aspirin desensitization (26%). Prior to treatment with biologics clinical workup included the nasal polyp score (90%), the SNOT-22 questionnaire (84%), surrogate markers of type 2 inflammation (60%-72%), and computer tomography (50%). Final treatment success was assessed after 24 weeks (50%). Mostly, the responding departments followed German and European recommendations for diagnosis and therapy of CRSwNP. Therapy with biologics is widely used. The value of preoperative systemic GCS and the frequent performance of CT before initiation of therapy with a biologic should be debated in regard to its currently widespread use.

Correlation of patient reported outcome measures with endoscopic findings in pediatric chronic adenoiditis and chronic rhinosinusitis

BackgroundStudies in adult chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) showed poor correlation between patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) and objective findings. Our goal is to study the correlation between the sinus and nasal quality of life (SN-5) and the 22-items sinonasal outcome test (SNOT-22) surveys with endoscopy findings in children with chronic adenoiditis (CA) and CRS. MethodsCross-sectional study of all pediatric patients (age 2–18) presenting for CA or CRS was performed. Patients and caregivers were asked to fill the SN-5 and SNOT-22 questionnaires at initial and follow up visits. Demographics and comorbidities were collected. Objective findings included endoscopy Modified Lund-Kennedy (MLK) scores and adenoid tissue size. Results124 children were included, with mean age of 9.9 years (SD = 4.8) and 46.8% female. 36.3% had allergic rhinitis, 23.4% had asthma, and 4% had obstructive sleep apnea. Moderate correlation was found between the rhinologic domain of SNOT-22 and MLK scores (r = 0.36, p = 0.001) and between SN5 scores and adenoid size in all patients (r = 0.39, p < 0.001). SNOT-22 scores showed moderate correlation with adenoid size (r = 0.42, p < 0.001) more specifically in CA patients (r = 0.54, p < 0.001). The correlation of SN5 and MLK scores were higher in children with allergic rhinitis or asthma. The correlation between SN5 and adenoid size was lower in children with allergic rhinitis or asthma. ConclusionThere is discrepancy between the subjective measures and the objective findings in children with CA or CRS. The physical exam findings may not reflect the effect of CRS on the quality of life of children.

Sino-nasal Outcome Test (SNOT22) score in adult population with no known sino-nasal disease.

This cross-sectional study aimed to establish normative values for Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) score in adult Indian population without known sino-nasal diseases. The purpose was to fill a critical knowledge gap, providing insights into how various host factors influence SNOT-22 scores which seek to serve as reference for clinical studies, facilitating comparisons of symptom severity and aid in patient counselling based on specific score patterns. One thousand and twelve adults meeting inclusion criteria participated in the study. Participants provided demographic information, occupation details, addiction history, and medical background. They completed SNOT-22 questionnaire, grading their symptoms on Likert scale of 0-5 based on severity experienced in the past 2weeks. The collected data were analysed to derive meaningful insights. Mean SNOT-22 score for the study population was 6.80, with 90% scoring below 15, and 40% within 0-3 range. Females exhibited significantly lower mean scores than males. Residents of rural areas reported higher scores than urban counterparts. Education levels had no significant influence on scores. Occupational exposure to aeroallergens, addiction (especially tobacco), and a history of allergies, bronchial asthma, or atopy were associated with significantly higherSNOT-22 scores. Principal component analysis identified four distinct domains, with the nasal symptom domain consistently emerging as the major contributor to differences in subgroups with significantly different total SNOT-22 scores. The normative data and subgroup analyses established in this study serve as a foundation for future research, aiding clinicians in predicting symptoms and providing tailored counselling for individuals with sino-nasal pathologies.

Is the relationship between SNOT-22 and NOSE and mucociliary clearance time an appropriate assessment method for functional outcomes of septorhinoplasty?

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate subjective and objective results after septorhinoplasty and to investigate the correlations between NOSE and SNOT-22 scales and saccharin clearance test (SCT) results. Patients and Methods: One hundred patients (37 males, 63 females; mean age: 26.4±8.4 years; range, 18 to 56 years) with nasal septal surgery indication were included in the study between January 2017 and January 2019. A SCT was applied to all cases preoperatively and in the first postoperative month, and SNOT-22 and NOSE questionnaires were filled. Results: No relationship was detected when the relationship between preoperative SCT and NOSE and SNOT-22 scores was evaluated. However, there was a statistically significant correlation between preoperative SNOT-22 scores and postoperative SCT values in 26% of the cases (r=0.260). Similarly, if the preoperative NOSE and SNOT-22 scores of the cases are low, it should be expected that the SCT value measured at the first postoperative month will be low, with a probability of 28% and 26%, respectively. As the preoperative NOSE value of the patients increased, the SNOT-22 value increased by 57.9% and 27.6%, respectively. Similarly, as the postoperative NOSE values increased, the postoperative SNOT-22 values increased by 51.8%. A positive relationship was found in all these bilateral correlations. According to the results obtained, the NOSE and SNOT-22 scores were 93% accurate and 98% acceptable. Conclusion: Although the statistically significant relationship between SCT results in the postoperative period and SNOT-22 and NOSE is a remarkable finding, there is a need for future studies that also evaluate long-term results to make more precise comments on this issue.

Olfaction and Quality of Life in Patients with Eosinophilic CRS Undergoing Endoscopic Sinus Surgery.

Introduction Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common inflammatory disease. This high prevalence leads to high direct and indirect public health costs, which include medical visits, laboratory tests and imaging, pharmacotherapy, hospitalizations, and surgical treatment. Furthermore, CRS has a substantial impact on patient quality of life, affecting productivity and being a common cause of absence from work CRS-associated olfactory dysfunction is highly prevalent, the actual effectiveness of surgical intervention remains inconsistent. Although there are studies evaluating the postoperative course of patients with eosinophilic Chronic rhinosinusitis (eCRS) treated with high-volume budesonide irrigation, there is little objective information regarding the impact of this intervention on olfactory status and quality of life. Objective To conduct a pre- and postoperative analysis of olfaction and quality of life in patients with eCRS treated with surgical intervention followed by high-volume budesonide nasal irrigation. Methods Prospective, descriptive, uncontrolled study of patients with eCRS. All patients underwent pre- and postoperative nasal endoscopy, SNOT-22 questionnaire, and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Text (UPSIT), always by the same previously trained examiner. The SNOT-22 questionnaire and the UPSIT were readministered to all patients at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively, and scores compared with those obtained preoperatively. Results Twenty patients were included in the study, 13 males and 7 females, between the ages of 23 and 65; 8 patients had comorbid asthma. Quantitative evaluation using the UPSIT test showed a significant improvement in olfaction 3 months after surgery, which remained 6 months and 1 year after surgery (p = 0.0063). There was no significant association between eosinophil concentrations in polypoid tissue and postoperative SNOT-22 and UPSIT results. Patients with tissue eosinophils >50 had a lower preoperative UPSIT score. As early as 3 months postoperatively, a significant improvement in quality of life was already noticeable, as represented by a decrease in SNOT-22 values, which persisted through the 1-year postoperative follow-up evaluation (p = 0.0005). Quantitative evaluation using the UPSIT test showed a significant improvement in olfaction 3 months after surgery, which remained 6 months and 1 year after surgery (p = 0.0063). Conclusion Surgery effectively controlled eCRS in patients who adhered to high-volume budesonide nasal irrigation postoperatively. There were significant improvements in quality of life and olfaction, which persisted at least up to one year postoperatively.

Sinonasal Symptom Correlation With the Postoperative Polyp Scale (POPS).

Commonly used endoscopic nasal polyp grading scales have been shown to correlate poorly with symptom scores and quality of life metrics. The recently described Postoperative Polyp Scale (POPS) is a grading system that more accurately characterizes polyp recurrence in postoperative sinus cavities by describing incremental recurrence in relation to the surgically opened sinus cavities. The objective of this study was to determine if the POPS correlated with sinonasal symptoms. CRSwNP patients were prospectively administered SNOT-22 questionnaires and graded according to the POPS starting at their 1-month postoperative appointments. Total POPS scores (sum of each side) and Max POPS score (larger value of left and right) were correlated with SNOT-22 total scores and subdomains using Kendall correlation testing. A total of 127 patients were enrolled in the study. Both Total POPS or Max POPS were significantly correlated to the SNOT-22 total score (P < .001, P < .001), Rhinologic (P < .001, P < .001), Extra-Nasal Rhinologic (P < .001, P < .001), Ear/Facial (P < .001, P < .001), and Psychologic (P = .028, P = .017) subdomains. Kendall's tau indicated strong correlation (≥0.3) with Rhinologic subdomain, moderate correlation (.21-.29) with Extra-Nasal Rhinologic and Ear/Facial subdomains, and weak correlation (.1-.19) with Psychologic subdomain. Previous endoscopic nasal polyp grading scales poorly correlate with symptoms and patient reported outcome measures. The new POPS moderately correlates with the total SNOT-22 score and strongly correlates with the Rhinologic subdomain, indicating that it may have good potential as a tool to evaluate postoperative CRSwNP patients.

Predictors of Non-Rhinogenic Facial Pain or Pressure in Otolaryngology Clinic.

Identify demographic and clinical characteristics that may help differentiate non-rhinogenic facial pain or pressure (NRFP) from sinusitis. Retrospective single-institution study. Tertiary Care Center Rhinology Clinic. All patients presenting with a complaint of facial pain or pressure over a 3-year period were included. Patients were categorized into either NRFP or sinusitis groups based on computed tomographyimaging and nasal endoscopy. Data pertaining to demographics, history, and SNOT-22 questionnaire domains were compared via univariate analysis as well as logistic regression with backwards variable selection. A total of 296 patients met inclusion criteria, of which 128 had NRFP and 168 had sinusitis. A significantly greater percentage of patients in the NRFP group were women of childbearing age (40.6% vs 28.0%, P = .02). Backwards variable selection resulted in a model with four variables predicting a diagnosis of NRFP-female sex (odds ratio [OR] = 2.998, P < .0001), no history of prior sinonasal surgery (OR = 0.340 for history vs no history, P < .01), low nasal domain score (OR = 0.551, P < .0001), and high ear/facial domain score (OR = 1.453, P < .01). Accurately identifying patients with NRFP at initial presentation based on history would help direct patients to the appropriate care pathway and prevent ineffective treatments such as antibiotics and sinus procedures. Our findings suggest that the suspicion for NRFP should be higher in women of child-bearing age as well as patients with greater ear/facial symptoms or lesser nasal symptoms.

Cytokine profile of nasal polyps and clinical characteristics of patients with polypous rhinosinisitis at different degree of therapeutic control and disease severity

The issues of recurrencies in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) still remain unresolved. Therefore, detection patients with uncontrolled clinical course of CRSwNP is required.The aim of the present study was to assess cytokine profile in nasal polyps as well as clinical characteristics of patients with CRSwNP at varying levels of therapeutic control.The study included 99 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. The contents of interferon IFNγ, interleukin IL- 1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, tumor necrosis factor TNFα, transforming growth factors TGF-β1, TGF-β2, TGF-β3 were measured in polyp tissue samples by means of multiplex analysis. The patients were treated according to a stepwise СRSwNP therapeutic algorithm [9]. Following observation for 5 years, all patients were divided into groups, as based on medical control degree. Group 1 included patients with mild CRSwNP, who mainly received stage I and II treatment for the entire observation period. Group 2 was presented by moderate- severity CRSwNP, with stage II or III therapy according to the referred algorithm. Group 3 included the patients with severe CRSwNP who received one or more stage IV courses. The patients underwent repeated SNOT-22 questionnaire, endoscopic examination, clinical assessment. In case of bronchial asthma (BA), ACQ-7 was repeated. Initial cytokine profile of nasal polyps was analyzed by the mentioned clinical groups.Results:After 5 years of observations in group 1 (mild CRSwNP), we found a minimal decrease in quality of life (SNOT-22), severity of nasal congestion, or smell impairment. Bronchial asthma duration in these patients was significantly lower compared to group 3, the patients had better asthma control level. Cytokine profile of nasal polyps was characterized by the highest IL-4 concentration, average values IL-1β, TNFα, IFNγ and minimal TGF-β1 values.In group 2 (moderate CRSwNP), we noted more pronouced impairment of smell, nasal congestion and quality of life. Bronchial asthma was less controlled than in group 1. The maximal concentrations of IFNγ, IL-1β, TNFα, IL-5, TGF-β1, TGF-β2 were registered.In group 3 with poor CRSwNP control, the highest SNOT-22 scores, severity of difficulty in nasal breathing, impaired sense of smell were revealed. Duration of bronchial asthma was longer, with lowest levels of medical control. In nasal polyps, minimal levels of IFNγ, IL-1β, TNFα, IL-4, IL-5, TGF-β2, TGF-β3 were noted.Treatment of patients depending on the clinical phenotypes of CRSwNP in the presence/absence of allergic rhinitis or bronchial asthma may improve control and reduce incidence of relapses in CRSwNP.

Effect of Body Weight on Response to Nasal Glucocorticoid Treatment in Allergic Rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis is among the most common chronic diseases in the world. Obesity can lead to a chronic systemic inflammatory process. In this study, we evaluated the effects of body weight on the response to treatment of allergic rhinitis with nasal corticosteroids. Two groups of patients diagnosed with allergic rhinitis were compared: one composed of obese patients and one composed of normal weight patients. Nasal endoscopy, peak nasal inspiratory flow, quality of life, the VAS, SNOT22, and NOSE-5 questionnaires, and the concentration of nasal cytokines (INF-γ, TNF-ᾳ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10) through nasal brushing were evaluated before and after treatment with 400 mcg/day nasal beclomethasone. No differences were identified between the groups in nasal endoscopy, peak nasal inspiratory flow, the VAS, SNOT22, and NOSE-5 questionnaires, or in the cytokines INF-γ, TNF-ᾳ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10 prior to nasal corticosteroid treatment. Both groups showed improvement in the VAS, SNOT-22, and NOSE-5 questionnaires and an increase in peak nasal inspiratory volumes after treatment. In the eutrophic group, there was an increase in INF-γ and IL-5 after treatment. When comparing the variation in cytokines before and after treatment between groups, IL-10 was the cytokine that showed altered behavior dependent on weight. Obesity did not seem to impact nasal symptoms and physiology and presented a similar clinical response to treatment with nasal corticosteroids to normal weight patients. However, obese patients had an impaired anti-inflammatory response during treatment with nasal corticosteroids.