The Sinonasal Outcome Test 22 score in persons without chronic rhinosinusitis

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Rhinology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) diagnosis relies on symptom assessment.
• The Sinonasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT 22) is a widely used patient-reported outcome measure.
• Establishing a normative SNOT 22 score in healthy individuals is crucial for accurate CRS assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the normative Sinonasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT 22) score in a population without chronic rhinosinusitis.
• To identify factors that may influence SNOT 22 scores in individuals without CRS.

Main Methods:

• A trans-European study involved clinical visits and survey questionnaires.
• Chronic rhinosinusitis diagnosis was confirmed using the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Burhinology (EPOS) guidelines, incorporating subjective symptoms and rhinoscopy.
• 268 participants without CRS completed the SNOT 22 questionnaire.

Main Results:

• The SNOT 22 scores in individuals without CRS ranged from 0 to 67.
• The mean SNOT 22 score was 10.5 (95% CI: 9.1-11.9), with a median score of 7.
• Significantly higher SNOT 22 scores were observed in individuals with allergic rhinitis and in blue-collar workers.

Conclusions:

• A median SNOT 22 score of 7 is proposed as the normal reference value for individuals without CRS.
• This normative score can serve as a benchmark in clinical practice and research settings.
• Factors such as allergic rhinitis and occupational status impact SNOT 22 scores even in the absence of CRS.