Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a global health problem affecting approximately 14% of the population of all age groups. CRS has a significant adverse impact on quality of life of the patients.

The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life of patients suffering from CRS with that of normal population and to assess the association between objective nasal endoscopic score, self-rated symptom score and quality of life (QoL) score.

This was a prospective study conducted over a period of 12 months. A total of 110 cases of CRS and 50 normal subjects taken as controls were recruited from out patients department. Patients diagnosed as a case CRS were subjected to rhinosinusitis disability index (RSDI), subjective QoL questionnaires and self-rated symptom score in their vernacular language followed by diagnostic nasal endoscopy, using 0° rigid endoscope (4 mm).

This study revealed that the mean ± SD total QoL score in the patients was 50.2 ± 14.9 (15-94) which was significantly affected as compared to control group where it was only 18.2 ± 9.15 (3-47). The mean ± SD of the functional, emotional and physical domains were 17.6 ± 5.46 (4-34), 16.5 ± 8.29 (5-88) and 16.5 ± 5.84 (2-35) respectively. There was no correlation between endoscopic score and the patient's self-rated symptom score or RSDI score. The correlation between the self-rated symptom score and total QoL score was significant (p = 0.02).

On comparing the QoL in the patients of CRS with the controls, it was observed that QoL was affected more in the patients of CRS in the physical, functional and emotional domain of their life. CRS has considerable adverse impact on QoL of patients and RSDI is a valuable tool in assessing the QoL in patients of CRS.

Gairola P, Bist SS, Mishra S, Agrawal V. Assessment of Quality of Life in Patients of Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Clin Rhinol An Int J 2014;7(3):96-99.