Assessing quality of life and burden of disease in chronic rhinosinusitis: a review

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis has been shown to have a significant impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL). We present and summarize current knowledge on assessment methods of Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) burden and QoL. Methodology: Review of the literature using the PubMed database (search of terms “chronic rhinosinusitis”, “CRS”, “quality of life”, “QoL”, “outcome measures”, “assessment of CRS”, “CRS burden” separately or combined) limited to articles published in the English language. Results: Despite the plethora of objective methods available to assess and quantify burden of CRS, discrepancies are occasionally encountered when correlation with subjective measures of QoL is attempted via numerous patient self-reporting tools. Conclusion: CRS has a detrimental effect on QoL and assessing disease severity and burden is a difficult goal. The applicability of known assessment methodologies should be re-evaluated and validated according to research findings on CRS pathophysiology, and new tools should be developed based on the emerging knowledge and the need for personalized treatment and evaluation methods.