Relationship between disease severity and quality of life in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis: A cross-sectional survey.

Abstract

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) interferes with daily functioning and well-being. Though not life-threatening, the severity of CRS can affect quality of life (QoL), turning everyday moments into persistent struggles. Despite its high prevalence, little research has assessed its relationship with patients' specific QoL. This study aimed to assess the relationship between disease severity and quality of life in CRS patients.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted among patients with CRS. Severity of disease was determined using the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22), while the QoL was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument (WHOQoL-BREF) and the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index (RSDI) questionnaires. RSDI was interpreted as a higher score indicated poor QoL. While for WHOQoL, a higher score indicated good QoL. The data was compared using Spearman's rank correlation test.

Results: There were 114 participants, with 58 (50.9%) males and 56 (49.1%) females. Their age ranged between 18 - 70 years, with a mean of 37.60 ±13.03 years. The Spearman's test revealed a statistically significant moderate negative correlation between SNOT-22 scores and various WHOQoL domains: physical health (r_s = -0.291, p = 0.002), psychological well-being (rs = -0.279, p = 0.003), social relationships (r_s = -0.179, p = 0.005), and environmental health (r_s = -0.274, p = 0.001) domains. The comparison of disease severity and RSDI showed a positive moderate correlation (r_s = 0.50, p = 0.000) that is statistically significant. The relation between disease severity and RSDI showed a positive correlation because higher RSDI indicated poor QoL, while the relationship between disease severity and WHOQoL showed a negative correlation because higher WHOQoL indicated good QoL.

Conclusion: The SNOT-22 scores were statistically significant and moderately correlated with all four WHOQoL domains, indicating that higher disease severity scores are consistently associated with poorer quality of life across physical health, psychological well-being, social relationships, and environmental health domains.