Rhinosinusitis and its impact on quality of life in children

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Quality of Life Research
• Public Health

Background:

• Rhinitis and rhinosinusitis are prevalent conditions affecting all age groups.
• These conditions impose a substantial burden on healthcare systems and reduce patient productivity.
• Understanding age-specific impacts is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the prevalence, disease characteristics, and financial costs of rhinitis and rhinosinusitis.
• To compare these aspects across different age cohorts: young children (5-10), young persons (11-16), and adults.
• To utilize validated, disease-specific quality of life questionnaires for comprehensive patient experience analysis.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of three disease-specific quality of life tools: Modified Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-20 (MSNOT-20) for adults, MSNOT-20 Young Persons Questionnaire (MSYPQ) for 11-16-year-olds, and Sami's Rhinosinusitis Diagnosis and Impact questionnaire for 5-10-year-olds.
• Data collected from hospital and community settings.
• Comparative analysis of patient-reported outcomes across age groups.

Main Results:

• Identified age-specific symptom prevalence, with cough being a prominent symptom in children (5-10 years) but less common in adults.
• Highlighted differences in disease characteristics and financial costs across pediatric and adult cohorts.
• Demonstrated the utility of validated questionnaires in capturing the patient experience.

Conclusions:

• Disease-specific quality of life tools offer valuable insights into the patient experience of rhinitis and rhinosinusitis.
• Comparative analysis across age groups reveals distinct symptom profiles and impacts.
• Findings support tailored management strategies for different age populations affected by these conditions.