Short-term quality of life after FESS in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has a distinct negative effect on patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is the treatment of choice for those not responding to medical treatments. This study aimed to evaluate short-term HRQoL of patients with CRS by using the German validated Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22).

Methods Symptom scores from 89 SNOT-22 questionnaires were analysed before surgery and 10-14 days (n = 77), four (n = 77) and six weeks (n = 76) and 6 months (n = 71) after FESS, and compared with those of 1,000 healthy controls, which have been selected using a non-probability quota sample in accordance of the distribution of the German Microcensus.

Results Compared to the preoperative mean SNOT-22 score (47.35), CRS patients significantly improved in HRQoL 10-14 days (31.75, p<0.01), 4 weeks (25.84, p<0.01), 6 weeks (24.16, p<0.01) and 6 months after FESS (27.16, p<0.01). Pre- and 6 months postoperatively, the five most important SNOT-22 items were blocked nose, hyposmia, mucous secretion, blowing the nose and postnasal drip. CRS-related hyposmia had the greatest impact on patients’ HRQoL at short-term follow-up.

Conclusion This is the shortest follow-up study evaluating the effect of FESS on patients’ HRQoL. FESS removes the disease burden, but still requires further postoperative medical treatment postoperatively.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2023