Abstract

QUALITY OF LIFE OF ADULT SUBJECTS WITH CHRONIC RHINOSINUSITIS IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Idugboe O. J.* and Adeosun A. A.

ABSTRACT

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is defined as an inflammatory disorder of the paranasal sinuses persisting for 12 weeks or longer and almost always accompanied by concurrent nasal airway inflmammation. The symptoms of CRS are diverse, difficult to qualify and often refractory. This combination greatly increases the likelihood of the disease affecting the quality of life of individuals who suffer from it. Objectives: - To determinetheseverity score of individual symptoms of CRS - To determine the effect of CRS on quality of life using sinonasal outcome test score (SNOT-22) Methods This was a prospective cross sectional study of Fifty- two consecutive adult patients with a clinical and radiologically confirmed diagnosis of CRS. Results: Age of patients ranged from 19 – 91 years. Male to female ratio was 1:1.26. The symptom spectrum of CRS ranged from need to blow nose (n=42) to dizziness (n=18). The three most severe symptoms of CRS were postnasal dripping, nasal blockage/congestion and need to blow nose. The mean total SNOT- 22 score in this study was 38.67. Conclusion: Postnasal dripping, nasal blockage and need to blow nose are the most severe symptoms of CRS. The quality of life of adult patients with CRS is significantly decreased as a result of the disease.

Keywords: Chronic rhinosinusitis, Quality of life, Sinonasal outcome score - 22, Nigeria.