Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2023.62.01.22

Association between Symptom Severity and Intensity of Acute Psychological Distress in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Chronic Rhinitis and Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Nia Naletilić ; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Nives Pondeljak ; Department of Dermatovenereology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Liborija Lugović-Mihić ; Department of Dermatovenereology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Vladimir Trkulja ; Department of Pharmacology, Zagreb University School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Livije Kalogjera ; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Chronic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis (CR and CRS) can lead to impairment of the
health-related quality of life (HRQL) with higher psychological perceived distress, resulting in disease
worsening and poor treatment outcomes. W aimed to evaluate the potential association between
disease severity and HRQL impairment with the perceived acute psychological distress in newly diagnosed
CR/CRS patients. This single-center cross-sectional study included otherwise healthy consecutive
adults with newly diagnosed CR/CRS (European position paper on rhinosinusitis and nasal
polyp criteria and International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology – Allergic Rhinitis
criteria or non-allergic rhinitis), who were evaluated for CR/CRS symptom severity and HRQL
(Sino Nasal Outcome Test 22 [SNOT-22], visual analog scale [VAS]) and acute perceived distress
(Perceived Stress Scale [PSS]). Principal component analysis (SNOT-22 items, VAS) identified 6
components as CR/CRS severity indicators, i.e,, poor sleep, wakes-up tired, nasopharynx, obstruction,
torment and rhinorrhea, which were evaluated for association with PSS score. Of the 63 included
patients (20 men, age median 38, range 19-75 years), 27 suffered from CR and 36 from CRS. Upon
adjustment for age and sex, higher total SNOT-22 (geometric means ratio [GMR]=1.04, 95% CI
1.01-1.06), higher “torment” (GMR=1.13, 1.04-1.24), higher “poor sleep” (GMR=1.11, 1.02-1.21)
and higher “wakes-up tired” (GMR=1.11, 1.01-1.21) scores were each associated with a higher PSS
score, overall and consistently in CR and CRS patients. In conclusion, more severe CR/CRS is associated
with greater perceived psychological distress already at earlier stages of the disease. Paying
attention to patient level of distress and anxiety over time may enable better understanding of the
connection between exacerbations, symptom severity and psychological burden of the disease.

Keywords

Chronic rhinosinusitis; Chronic rhinitis; Psychological distress; SNOT-22; Perceived stress scale

Hrčak ID:

307296

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/307296

Publication date:

1.4.2023.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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