SNOT-22 in a control population.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Quality of Life Assessment

Background:

• The Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) is a widely used questionnaire to assess the severity of symptoms in patients with rhinosinusitis.
• Establishing normative data in a general population is crucial for accurate interpretation of SNOT-22 scores in clinical and research settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the SNOT-22 and its subscales within a UK-wide population sample that does not have a diagnosis of rhinosinusitis.
• To establish reference values for SNOT-22 scores in healthy adults.

Main Methods:

• A self-reported questionnaire study was conducted.
• Data were collected from 250 adults across 30 UK Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) departments.
• Participants were adults without self-reported nasal problems, active chronic conditions, or recent hospital admissions.

Main Results:

• The overall mean SNOT-22 score was 12.0.
• Females reported significantly higher SNOT-22 scores (mean 13.2) compared to males (mean 10.2).
• Significant differences favoring higher scores in females were observed in the sleep/fatigue and facial domains.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights significant gender-based differences in SNOT-22 scores among individuals without rhinosinusitis.
• These normative data provide a valuable reference point for future research comparing SNOT-22 scores in various rhinosinusitis patient populations.