Quality of life assessment with the use of the SF-36 in patients with nasal polyposis: correlations with clinical and laboratory findings

• Published in: Kulak burun boğaz ihtisas dergisi Vol. 11; no. 3; p. 72
• Main Authors: Dereköylü, Levent, Canakçioğlu, Salih, Mamak, Aydin, Güvenç, M Güven, Banitahmaseb, Amin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Turkish
• Published: Turkey 01-09-2003
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Endoscopy; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nasal Polyps - diagnostic imaging; Nasal Polyps - pathology; Nasal Polyps - psychology; Physical Examination; Quality of Life; Severity of Illness Index; Skin Tests; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 1300-7475

We evaluated the quality of life of patients with nasal polyposis and sought correlations between clinical and laboratory parameters and quality of life.
Thirty-two patients (8 females, 24 males; mean age 43 years; range 15 to 68 years) with nasal polyposis were evaluated by history, physical examination, endoscopy, computed tomography (CT), nasal smear, and skin prick tests. Quality of life was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36).
The mean CT score showed a weak correlation with symptom and endoscopic scores (p<0.05), whereas the latter two scores were not correlated. All the SF-36 scales were adversely influenced, particularly including the scores for role limitation caused by emotional problems, general perception of health, vitality, and role limitation caused by physical problems. An inverse correlation was found between increasing age and complaints of pain (p<0.05). Symptom scores were correlated only with role limitation caused by emotional problems (p<0.05). Duration of nasal symptoms was correlated with increased scores for role limitation caused by physical problems, mental health, social functioning, and pain (p<0.05). Computed tomography stage was correlated with role limitation caused by emotional problems, pain, and social functioning, whereas CT scores showed correlation only with pain (p<0.05). The presence of asthma adversely influenced general perception of health scores (p<0.05).
Nasal polyposis adversely affects the quality of life of patients, the extent of deterioration being more prominent in certain subscales.