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Background: Differentiating the non‐sinogenic headache from chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) remains a significant clinical challenge due to the extensive overlap in symptoms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) score patterns in patients with confirmed non‐sinogenic headache in order to develop negative predictors of CRS. Methods: Institutional Review Board (IRB)‐approved, retrospective review of patients diagnosed with CRS or non‐sinogenic headache defined as patients with a chief complaint of headache, facial pain, and facial pressure in the absence of both endoscopic and computed tomography (CT) evidence of inflammation. The optimal cutoff points of potential predictors of non‐sinogenic headache by SNOT‐22 score were quantified by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The negative predictive values (NPVs) for CRS were calculated in a discovery population and then validated in an independent population. Results: A total of 724 (164 non‐sinogenic headache and 560 CRS) and 412 (88 non‐sinogenic headache and 324 CRS) patients were recruited in the discovery and validation populations, respectively. Domain 3 (Ear/facial) and domain 4 (Psychological dysfunction) were significantly higher in patients with non‐sinogenic headache as compared with CRS while domain 1 (Rhinologic) and domain 2 (Extranasal rhinologic) were significantly lower. The top 4 predictors of non‐sinogenic headache were the domain 3 (Ear/facial)/domain 1 (Rhinologic) ratio, item 12, domain 3 (Ear/facial), and (item 12 + item 10)/(item 4 + item 5) ratio, with areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) ranging from 0.637 to 0.720 by ROC curve. A domain 3 (Ear/facial)/domain 1 (Rhinologic) ratio over 0.66 performed as the best negative predictor of CRS with the highest NPVs of 0.880 and 0.889 in the discovery and validation populations, respectively. Conclusion: Patients with non‐sinogenic headache have distinct SNOT‐22 score patterns compared with patients with CRS. A domain 3 (Ear/facial)/domain 1 (Rhinologic) ratio greater than 0.66 is a strong negative predictor of CRS, which can be used to aid in patient counseling and potentially limit the use of unnecessary sinonasal therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Patient-reported control of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) symptoms is associated with the quality of life impact of CRS. We sought to determine if 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) score is predictive of patient-perceived CRS symptom control. Methods Prospective cross-sectional study of 202 patients with CRS. Participants were asked to rate their CRS symptom control as 'not at all,' 'a little,' 'somewhat,' 'very,' and 'completely.' The severity of patient CRS symptomatology was measured using the SNOT-22. The relationship between SNOT-22 score and patient-reported CRS symptom control was determined using regression, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results SNOT-22 was negatively associated with patient-reported CRS symptom control (adjusted β = −0.03; 95% CI, −0.04 to −0.02; p < 0.001), after controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics. There was a significant difference in SNOT-22 scores of participants reporting each level of symptom control ( p < 0.001) with the greatest differences between participants who rated their CRS symptom control as 'not at all,' 'a little,' and 'somewhat,' which we deem poor CRS symptom control, and the group who described their level of CRS symptom control described as 'very' and 'completely,' which we deem well-controlled CRS symptoms. These results were true across all SNOT-22 subdomains scores as well. Using ROC analysis, a SNOT-22 score of 35 identified patients reporting poor vs well-controlled CRS symptom control with 71.4% sensitivity and 85.5% specificity. Conclusion SNOT-22 score is associated with how well patients feel their CRS symptomatology is controlled. Moreover, SNOT-22 score can be used to accurately distinguish patients with poor vs well-controlled CRS symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the significant morbidity associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in individuals with asthma (CRSwA), there is a paucity of codified, evidence‐based management strategies for CRS in this population. Methods: Using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Review Databases, a systematic review was performed covering management strategies for CRSwA. A total of 5903 articles were screened, and 70 were included for full‐text analysis. After application of exclusion criteria, 53 articles comprised the qualitative synthesis. The level of evidence was graded and benefit‐harm assessments, as well as value judgment and recommendations, were provided Results: Strong evidence confirms the benefit of oral and topical medications on sinonasal‐specific outcomes in individuals with CRSwA; there is low‐grade evidence demonstrating that these agents improve lung function and/or asthma control. Moderate to strong evidence suggests that endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) improves both sinonasal‐ and asthma‐specific quality of life. Although there is insufficient to low evidence to indicate that ESS improves pulmonary function in this population, data indicate a positive impact of this intervention on asthma control. Biologic medications strongly improve both subjective and objective sinonasal‐ and asthma‐specific outcomes. Conclusion: Evidence supports managing CRS in individuals with CRSwA in a stepwise fashion, starting with traditional nonbiologic oral and topical medication, and escalating to second‐line treatments, such as ESS and biologics. Optimal treatment of individuals who have CRSwA often requires concurrent, directed management of asthma, as not all CRS interventions impact asthma status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The concept of disease control incorporates independent disease characteristics that are longitudinally reflective of disease status and which can be used to make treatment decisions. Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a chronic condition for which the determination of disease control by both the patient and the treating physician is important. Our objectives were to determine CRS disease characteristics that are associated with patient‐reported and physician‐rated CRS disease control. Study Type: Cross‐sectional. Methods: A total of 209 participants were prospectively recruited. Participants were asked to rate their global level of CRS control as "not at all," "a little," "somewhat," "very," and "completely." All participants completed a 22‐item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) and also reported the number of sinus infections, CRS‐related antibiotic courses taken, CRS‐related oral corticosteroid courses taken, and missed days of work or school due to CRS, all in the last 3 months. Clinical and demographic characteristics were also collected from each participant. A Lund‐Kennedy endoscopy score was calculated for each participant from nasal endoscopy. Two rhinologists were then given each participant's SNOT‐22 score (as well as SNOT‐22 nasal, sleep, otologic/facial pain, and emotional subdomain scores), endoscopy score, and the number of sinus infections, CRS‐related antibiotics, CRS‐related oral corticosteroid courses and missed days of work or school due to CRS in the preceding 3 months as reported by the patient. The two rhinologists were blinded to all other participant characteristics and each rhinologist independently rated every participant's global control level as "not at all," "a little," "somewhat," "very," and "completely." Associations were sought between CRS disease characteristics (SNOT‐22 score, endoscopy score, sinus infections, CRS‐related antibiotic usage, CRS‐related oral corticosteroid usage, and lost productivity due to CRS) and patient‐reported CRS control as well as mean physician‐rated CRS control. Results: Patient‐reported global CRS control was associated only with SNOT‐22 (adjusted relative risk [RR] = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98–0.99, P < .001) but no other CRS disease characteristic. Patient‐reported CRS control was specifically associated only with nasal symptoms and not extra‐nasal symptoms of CRS. Physician‐rated CRS control was associated with SNOT‐22 score (adjusted RR [for each 1‐unit increase of SNOT‐22] = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98–0.99, P < .001), number of acute bacterial CRS exacerbations—reflected by number of antibiotic courses taken (or sinus infections)—in the last 3 months (adjusted RR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.82–0.98, P = .014) and the number of CRS‐related oral corticosteroid courses taken in the last 3 months (adjusted RR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.78–0.97, P = .012). Nasal, sleep, and otologic/facial pain symptoms were all associated with physician‐rated CRS control. Having used at least one course of antibiotics or oral corticosteroids in the last 3 months was the optimal threshold for detecting poorly controlled CRS. Conclusions: Patients and physicians use different criteria to determine the level of CRS control. While both rely on the burden of CRS symptomatology, patients consider primarily nasal symptoms while physicians include nasal and extra‐nasal symptoms of CRS in determining CRS control. Physicians also independently consider CRS‐related antibiotic use, as a reflection of acute bacterial CRS exacerbations, and CRS‐related oral corticosteroid use in the determination of global CRS control. Level of Evidence: 2c. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the 22‐item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) in individuals undergoing medical management for their chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: Academic, tertiary care centre. Participants: A total of 247 adults undergoing medical management for CRS. Main outcome measure: At enrolment, participants completed a SNOT‐22. At a subsequent follow‐up visit, 2‐12 months after enrolment, participants also completed a SNOT‐22. At follow‐up, participants also rated the change in their sinus symptoms and general health as “Much worse,” “A little worse,” “About the same,” “A little better” or “Much better” compared with enrolment; these two questions were used as sinus symptom and general health anchor questions, respectively. The SNOT‐22 MCID was calculated using distribution‐based, anchor‐based and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve‐based methods. Results: Using the distribution‐based method, the SNOT‐22 MCID was 11.6. Using the sinus symptom anchor question, the SNOT‐22 MCID was 10.5; applying the ROC method to the sinus symptom anchor yielded an MCID of 12.5. In comparison, using the general health anchor question, the SNOT‐22 MCID was 8.3; applying the ROC method to the sinus symptom anchor yielded an MCID of 17.5. In all cases, the calculated MCID had a sensitivity of approximately 50‐60% and specificity of approximately 80‐90%. Conclusions: Based on our results, we propose a SNOT‐22 MCID of 12 in medically managed patients with CRS. The MCID, while specific, was not sensitive for identifying patients with CRS experiencing a noticeable improvement in sinus symptoms or general health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pathophysiology-targeting treatments exist for aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) through aspirin desensitization and biologics, such as dupilumab. With increasing attention paid to these treatments, which may be associated with significant side effects and/or cost, there is little description of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) response to treatment with intranasal corticosteroids and saline irrigations in AERD. Objective: To determine the effect of intranasal budesonide irrigations for the treatment of CRSwNP in AERD. Methods: This is an observational study of 14 AERD patients presenting to a rhinology clinic for CRS who were treated with twice daily high volume, low pressure irrigations with 240 mL of saline to which a 0.5 mg/2 mL respule of budesonide was added. All participants completed a 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) at enrollment and at follow up 1 to 6 months later. Polyp scores were also calculated at each time point. Results: SNOT-22 scores ranged from 26 to 98 (median: 40.5) at enrollment and 3 to 85 (median: 38.5) at follow-up. Polyp scores ranged from 2 to 6 (median: 4) at enrollment at 0 to 6 (median: 2) at follow-up. Over the treatment period, change in SNOT-22 score ranged from −38 to 16 (median: −18) and change in polyp score ranged from −2 to 0 (median: −0.5). Approximately 57% of participants experienced at least 1 minimal clinically important difference in SNOT-22 score and 21% of participants had a SNOT-22 score <20 at follow-up. Conclusion: Medical management with intranasal corticosteroids and saline irrigations alone leads to significant improvement in sinonasal symptomatology in a subset of AERD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The mechanism of airway remodeling in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) remains unknown. We wished to determine whether profibrotic transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and activin A and their downstream signaling proteins are increased in CRSwNP and if they are regulated in epithelial cells by noxious or inflammatory stimuli. Methods Frozen tissue from CRSwNP patients, healthy control (HC) middle turbinates, and sinus tissue from CRS without NP (CRSsNP) patients were immunostained for TGF-β1, activin A, and downstream signaling proteins. Primary nasal epithelial cells (PNECs) from HCs and CRSwNP patients were cultured in media, cigarette smoke extract (CSE), or double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) (a ligand for Toll-like receptor-3) and examined for inflammatory and profibrotic genes using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results CRSwNP patients showed increased TGF-β1 and activin A in the stroma, increased TGF-β1 signaling (phosphorylated Smad2/3) in the stroma and epithelium, and increased Smad3-dependent Snail1 in the stroma. Immunostaining for TGF-β1, pSmad2/3, and Snail1 in CRSwNP patients was highly correlated. Immunostaining for pSmad2/3 and Snail1 was similar in CRSwNP and CRSsNP patients. Compared to HCs, PNECs from CRSwNP patients were more responsive to CSE and dsRNA in terms of TGF-β1 and activin A and more strongly induced by dsRNA in terms of chemokines. Conclusion Increased TGF-β1 and activin A and increased downstream TGF-β1 signaling is present in CRSwNP patients, primarily in the stroma. This may contribute to features of airway remodeling previously described. PNECs from CRSwNP patients are induced to produce TGF-β1 and activin A by CSE and dsRNA, suggesting that cigarette smoke and viral infection might also contribute to airway remodeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgeons commonly prescribe prophylactic antibiotics after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), yet minimal data exist to support this practice. In this study we aimed to assess the impact of post‐ESS antibiotics on infection, quality of life (QOL), and endoscopic scores. Methods: This was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, noninferiority trial comparing amoxicillin‐clavulanate vs placebo after ESS (NCT01919411, ClinicalTrials.gov). Adults (N = 77) with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) refractory to appropriate medical therapy who underwent ESS were randomized to antibiotics (N = 37) or placebo (N = 40) and followed clinically (mean ± standard deviation: 1.3 ± 0.3 and 8.8 ± 3.9 weeks postoperatively). At baseline and follow‐up, QOL was measured with 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test questionnaires and Lund‐Kennedy endoscopic scores were evaluated. Outcomes were analyzed with repeated‐measures analysis of variance and analysis of covariance and z tests for proportions. Results: Placebo was noninferior to antibiotic prophylaxis with regard to postoperative SNOT‐22 scores (β = 0.18, 2‐tailed p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the antibiotic and placebo groups in LK score trajectories over time (p = 0.63) or in postoperative infection rates (2.6% vs 2.4%, respectively; p = 0.96). The rate of diarrhea was significantly higher in the antibiotic group (24.3% vs 2.5%; relative risk = 10.8; p = 0.02). Conclusion: Although statistically underpowered, the results suggest placebo was noninferior to prophylactic antibiotics after ESS for CRS regarding postoperative sinonasal‐specific QOL. There were no significant differences in postoperative endoscopic scores or rates of infection, but the rate of diarrhea was significantly higher in the antibiotic group. These findings add to the growing evidence that routine use of prophylactic postoperative antibiotics does not improve outcomes post‐ESS and significantly increases the rate of diarrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A short‐course oral corticosteroid taper and topical intranasal corticosteroids may be used to maximize the success of medical management for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). In this study, we sought to identify characteristics that would be predictive of efficacy for this combination regimen. Methods: Sixty‐four patients with CRS, bilateral polyps, a polyp score of at least 3, and a 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) score ≥20 were prospectively enrolled and uniformly treated with a 15‐day prednisone taper and twice daily dilute budesonide irrigations. Participants were assessed at enrollment and at follow up, 2 to 5 months later. Clinical and demographic characteristics were assessed at enrollment. At both time points, CRS symptoms were assessed with SNOT‐22, and polyp score (range, 0 to 6) was assessed endoscopically. Associations were determined with regression. Results: Pretreatment SNOT‐22 score (adjusted β = −0.83; 95% CI, −1.08 to −0.58; p < 0.001) and comorbid asthma (adjusted β = 15.75; 95% CI, 4.74 to 26.75; p = 0.007) were associated with a change in SNOT‐22 experienced over the study period. Achieving a greater‐than‐1 minimal clinically important difference (MCID) improvement in SNOT‐22 score was also associated with pretreatment SNOT‐22 score (adjusted OR = 1.09; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.14; p < 0.001) and comorbid asthma (adjusted OR = 0.13; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.72; p = 0.019). SNOT‐22 score ≥47 had 81.5% sensitivity and 78.4% specificity to detect patients experiencing 1 MCID improvement. Pretreatment polyp score was not associated with any outcome metric. Conclusion: In treatment of CRSwNP with prednisone and budesonide irrigations, pretreatment endoscopy was not informative of treatment response. Pretreatment SNOT‐22 and comorbid asthma may be more predictive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The effects of nasal obstruction in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are associated with depressed mood. We sought to validate this finding by determining whether improvement in nasal obstruction would translate to improvement in depressed mood. Methods: This was a prospective observational study of 150 patients undergoing medical management for CRS. Data were collected at two timepoints: enrollment and a subsequent follow-up visit 3–12 months later. Impact of nasal obstruction was measured using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) instrument and depressed mood was measured using the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2). Sinonasal symptoms associated with CRS were also measured using the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). Clinical and demographic characteristics were collected. The relationship between changes in PHQ-2 and NOSE scores was determined with correlation and linear regression. Results: Change in PHQ-2 score was significantly correlated with change in NOSE score (ρ = 0.30, p < 0.001). After controlling for covariates, change in PHQ-2 score was associated with change in NOSE score (adjusted linear regression coefficient [β] = 0.014, 95% CI 0.006–0.022, p = 0.001). We confirmed these relationships, finding that change in PHQ-2 was associated (adjusted β = 0.037, 95% CI 0.013–0.061, p = 0.003) with change in the nasal subdomain score of the SNOT-22. Improvement in NOSE score by greater than 22 points was predictive of improvement in PHQ-2 score with sensitivity 54.5% and 83.8% specificity (p < 0.001). Conclusion: These results provide evidence that improvements in nasal manifestations/symptoms of CRS translate to significant improvements in mood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There are many year-round modifiers of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, it is unknown whether there are seasonal variations in the sinonasal symptom burden of CRS. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of sinonasal symptom burden measured using the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and its four associated nasal, sleep, ear/facial discomfort and emotional subdomains in 1028 individuals with CRS. The season (winter, spring, summer or fall) when the SNOT-22 was completed was recorded. Regressions, controlling for clinical and demographic characteristics, were performed to seek association between season of the year and SNOT-22 total and subdomain scores. Results: The mean SNOT-22 scores were 37.4 for those individuals completing their SNOT-22 in the fall, 40.5 in the winter, 37.4 in the spring and 36.0 in the summer. There was a statistically significant association between higher SNOT-22 scores and completing the SNOT-22 in the wintertime (adjusted β = 4.08, 95% CI 0.74–7.42, p = 0.017). When seeking association between season and SNOT-22 subdomain scores, wintertime was associated only with higher emotional (adjusted β = 0.48, 95% CI 0.14–0.81, p = 0.006) and sleep (adjusted β = 2.23, 95% CI 0.54–3.91, p = 0.010) subdomain scores. Examining individual SNOT-22 items, these associations were due to more symptoms related to depressed mood ("sad") and psychomotor retardation. Conclusion: There are seasonal variations in symptom burden of CRS patients, independent of aeroallergen hypersensitivity, with the greatest increase in baseline CRS symptomatology during the winter. This finding was most strongly associated with increased emotional symptomatology and depressed mood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of bilateral inferior turbinate reduction (BITR) on patient‐reported quality of life (QOL) following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Methods: This was a prospective cohort study. Patients with CRS, who were recruited from 10 different otolaryngologic practices between 2011 and 2014, completed the 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22), Chronic Sinusitis Survey (CSS), and EuroQol 5 Dimension (EQ‐5D) survey at baseline, and at 12, 24, 36, and 48 months after ESS. A total of 113 patients who underwent ESS with BITR were compared to 788 patients who underwent ESS without BITR. Results: Significant demographic and comorbid differences between BITR and non‐BITR cohorts included age (41 vs 49 years, p < 0.0001), presence of asthma (19% vs 36%, p < 0.0001), prior sinus surgery (22% vs 53%, p < 0.0001), and concurrent septoplasty (80% vs 53%, p < 0.0001), respectively. On univariate analysis, patients who underwent ESS with or without BITR were found to have statistically significant improvement in disease‐specific (SNOT‐22 and CSS) and general (EQ‐5D) QOL scores at years 1 through 4 (p < 0.05). On multivariate regression, however, the performance of BITR was not associated with any improvements in these outcome measures. Conclusion: Patients undergoing ESS achieve similar long‐term improvement in both disease‐specific and general QOL regardless of the performance of concurrent BITR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) may arise due to odontogenic etiologies. However, it is unknown whether odontogenic CRS has a differential impact on patients’ quality of life (QOL) compared to standard, inflammatory (but non-odontogenic) CRS. The objective of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in the impact of sinonasal symptomatology on general health-related QOL in odontogenic CRS compared to non-odontogenic CRS. This was a retrospective review of 21 odontogenic CRS patients who visited our tertiary care center. The severity of sinonasal symptomatology and CRS-specific QOL detriment was measured using the 22-item Sinonasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-22) and general health-related QOL was measured using the health utility index from the 5-item EuroQol survey (EQ-5D HUV). Compared to non-odontogenic CRS, odontogenic CRS was not associated with a difference in SNOT-22 score [linear regression coefficient (β) = − 1.57, 95% CI − 12.47 to 9.32, p = 0.777] but was significantly associated with decreased EQ-5D HUV (β = − 0.10, 95% CI − 0.17 to − 0.03, p = 0.008). We also found that the magnitude of association (β) between SNOT-22 and EQ5D-HUV was greater for odontogenic CRS patients compared to non-odontogenic CRS patients (p = 0.045). Our findings suggest sinonasal symptoms may have a greater impact on general QOL in odontogenic CRS compared to non-odontogenic CRS. The reason for this remains unknown, but deserves further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Previous studies have identified subdomains of the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), reflecting distinct and largely independent categories of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) symptoms. However, no study has validated the subdomain structure of the SNOT-22. This study aims to validate the existence of underlying symptom subdomains of the SNOT-22 using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and to develop a subdomain model that practitioners and researchers can use to describe CRS symptomatology. Methods A total of 800 patients with CRS were included into this cross-sectional study (400 CRS patients from Boston, MA, and 400 CRS patients from Reno, NV). Their SNOT-22 responses were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to determine the number of symptom subdomains. A CFA was performed to develop a validated measurement model for the underlying SNOT-22 subdomains along with various tests of validity and goodness of fit. Results EFA demonstrated 4 distinct factors reflecting: sleep, nasal, otologic/facial pain, and emotional symptoms (Cronbach's alpha, >0.7; Bartlett's test of sphericity, p < 0.001; Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin >0.90), independent of geographic locale. The corresponding CFA measurement model demonstrated excellent measures of fit (root mean square error of approximation, <0.06; standardized root mean square residual, <0.08; comparative fit index, >0.95; Tucker-Lewis index, >0.95) and measures of construct validity (heterotrait-monotrait [HTMT] ratio, <0.85; composite reliability, >0.7), again independent of geographic locale. Conclusion The use of the 4-subdomain structure for SNOT-22 (reflecting sleep, nasal, otologic/facial pain, and emotional symptoms of CRS) was validated as the most appropriate to calculate SNOT-22 subdomain scores for patients from different geographic regions using CFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The need for objective assessment of patient outcomes is becoming an essential component of clinical practice for both private and academic otolaryngologists. The purpose of this study is to describe the implementation of an online model for collection of clinical outcomes data in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Methods Patients completed the Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), Chronic Sinusitis Survey (CSS), and EuroQol 5-dimension assessment (EQ-5D), before and after sinus surgery. One year after initial patient enrollment, an online tool was developed to facilitate collection of postoperative data. Response rates preimplementation and postimplementation of online data collection were compared. Results A total of 520 sinus surgery patients provided outcomes data from the practices of 7 private practice (n = 308) and 4 academic otolaryngologists (n = 212). With implementation of the online collection instrument, the response rate at 3 months increased from 67% to 78.8% ( p = 0.004). The overall follow-up rate at 3 months was higher in patients recruited from private as compared to academic practices (77.9% vs 69.8%, respectively, p = 0.04). Conclusion Quality of life data can be effectively collected from CRS patients in both the private and academic practice setting. The addition of an online data collection tool can significantly increase response rates, and allow a comprehensive capture of meaningful clinical outcomes. Such a model is not difficult to implement and has increasing relevance as payers begin to request outcome data from providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]