Altered quality of life and psychological health (SCL-90-r) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the impact of olfactory dysfunction on quality of life (QOL) and psychological status in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted from January 2011 to May 2012 with 130 patients with septal deviation (SD) (n = 59) and CRSwNP (n = 71). All patients underwent computed tomography (CT), allergy tests, and sniffin' stick olfactory test# Anosmia was defined by Threshold-Discrimination-Identification #TDI# scores less than 16# QOL and psychological symptoms were assessed with the Sinonasal Outcome Test-20 #SNOT-20# and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised #SCL-90-R## Results: Odor discrimination and identification scores were significantly lower in CRSwNP than in SD #P = #008 and P = #005, respectively## In CRSwNP, identification score decreased with higher CT score #r = -0#29, P = #014## CRSwNP with anosmia showed a decreased QOL #P = #044#, and SNOT-20 negatively correlated with TDI in severe CRSwNP #CT score ≥15, r = -0#714, P = #001## Anosmia patients had higher anxiety and phobia scores of SCL-90-R in both SD and CRSwNP# However, depression score increased only in CRSwNP with anosmia #P = .025#. Conclusion: Olfactory dysfunction may have significant effects on QOL and psychological health. CRSwNP with anosmia is a distinct phenotype having mixed type of olfactory loss that might have a detrimental effect on depression. © The Author#s# 2015.