Frequency and intensity of symptoms in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

Abstract

Introduction/Objective Chronic rhinosinusitis is one of the most frequent chronic disorders which significantly influences the patients‘ quality of life. The objective of this paper was to examine which are the most frequent and intensive symptoms in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, and also to determine whether there is a correlation between a subjective assessment of the disease as a whole and individual symptoms.

Methods The study encircled 90 patients with clinical diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis that was endoscopically proven and computer tomography of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Every possible symptom was recorded in every patient (nasal congestion, nasal discharge, facial pain/pressure, reduction or loss of smell, headache, fatigue, cough, halitosis and ear pain/fullness), the intensity of every possible symptom as well as the disorder as a whole. The patients assessed the intensity of their symptoms on the visual analogue scale.

Results Nose congestion is the most frequent symptom. It occured in 82 patients (91.1%), followed by nasal discharge in 81 patients (90%) and there was no difference in frequency of these two symptoms. Nasal discharge has been recorded as the most intensive symptom (x̄ = 5.4) and it is significantly more intensive in comparison to nasal congestion which was the second on the intesity list (x̄ = 4.1, p = 0.002). All other symptoms were significantly less frequently and less intensive. The average intensity value of the disease as a whole is the same as the average intensity value of the nasal discharge (x̄ = 5.4) while the average intensity values of all other symptoms are statistically significantly lower than the average intensity value of the disease as a whole; in all comparisons p < 0.001.

Conclusion Nasal congestion and nasal discharge are the most common symptoms in the patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Nasal discharge is the most intensive symptom in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis while its intensity determines the sensation of the intesity of the disorder as a whole.

Keywords: chronic rhinosinusitis; visual analogue scale; nasal obstruction; nasal discharge; facial pain/ pressure; smell abnormalities