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Morbidity in patients waiting for tonsillectomy in Cardiff: a cross-sectional study
1National Public Health Service for Wales, Cardiff, Wales, UK. rosemary.fox@nphs.wales.nhs.uk
Insights
Patients awaiting tonsillectomy experience significant morbidity, including frequent infections and missed school or work. This study indicates that individuals do not outgrow their tonsillitis symptoms while waiting for surgery.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Tonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure.
- Patients awaiting tonsillectomy may experience ongoing symptoms and morbidity.
- The natural progression of tonsillitis in patients awaiting surgery is not well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the morbidity experienced by patients awaiting tonsillectomy.
- To assess the impact of waiting time on tonsillectomy patient morbidity.
- To investigate whether patients outgrow tonsillitis symptoms while on the waiting list.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was conducted among 379 children and 278 adults waiting over 12 months for tonsillectomy.
- Data collected included frequency of infection, sickness absence, and desire for surgery.
- Statistical analysis was performed to assess associations between variables.
Main Results:
- High rates of tonsillitis were reported: 86% of children and 83% of adults had experienced tonsillitis in the prior six months.
- Significant sickness absence was observed: 89% of children missed school and 71% of adults missed work.
- The frequency of infection was strongly associated with patients' desire for surgery (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Patients awaiting tonsillectomy experience considerable morbidity, including frequent infections and significant impact on daily life.
- The findings do not support the hypothesis that patients will spontaneously improve or 'outgrow' their condition while waiting for surgery.
- This highlights the need for timely surgical intervention to alleviate patient morbidity.
Objective:
Our aim was to determine the morbidity of patients awaiting tonsillectomy.
Design:
The study comprised a questionnaire survey of 379 children and 278 adults waiting over 12 months for tonsillectomy.
Outcome Measures:
These comprised frequency of infection, sickness absence and continuing desire for surgery.
Results:
Response rates were 70 per cent (children) and 60 per cent (adults). Morbidity was similar in adults and children, and in those waiting more or less than two years. In the six months prior to the study, 86 per cent of children and 83 per cent of adults had had tonsillitis. Sixty per cent of children and 50 per cent of adults had had three or more episodes. Sixty-two per cent of children and 59 per cent of adults had had at least one long episode of tonsillitis, and 29 per cent of children and 24 per cent of adults had had more than three long episodes. Eighty-nine per cent of children had missed school at least once, compared with 71 per cent of adults missing work at least once (p = 0.01). The frequency of infection was significantly associated with patients' desire for surgery (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Patients awaiting tonsillectomy experience considerable morbidity. This study does not support the hypothesis that untreated patients will 'outgrow' their condition.
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