Association Between Nasal Obstruction Symptoms and Anxiety

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Psychology
• Medical Research

Background:

• Nasal obstruction is a common complaint affecting quality of life.
• The relationship between subjective nasal obstruction and psychological factors like anxiety is not fully understood.
• Objective measures of nasal function are crucial for accurate diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between objective nasal function assessments and subjective anxiety scales.
• To compare anxiety levels in patients with and without nasal pathology causing obstruction.

Main Methods:

• 120 patients with nasal obstruction were divided into nasal septum deviation (DNS) and no pathology (NON) groups.
• A control group of 57 healthy individuals was included.
• Nasal obstruction severity (Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation - NOSE scale), nasal resistance (rhinomanometry), and anxiety (Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire - ACQ, Body Sensations Questionnaire - BSQ) were assessed.

Main Results:

• Both DNS and NON groups reported significantly higher NOSE scale, ACQ, and BSQ scores compared to controls (P < .001).
• The DNS group exhibited significantly higher total nasal resistance than NON and control groups (P < .001).
• No significant difference in nasal resistance was found between the NON and control groups.

Conclusions:

• Patients experiencing nasal breathing complaints, irrespective of organic pathology, report similar levels of nasal obstruction symptoms.
• Elevated anxiety levels are associated with symptoms of nasal obstruction, even in the absence of identifiable nasal pathology.
• This highlights the significant impact of psychological distress on the perception of nasal obstruction.