title: The effect of surgery upon the quality of life in snoring patients and their partners: a between-subjects case-controlled trial.
abstract: Snoring is a common complaint in the community. Its psychosocial effect upon the relationship between sleeping partners is not known. This study examines prospectively by detailed tailored questionnaires the differences in the physical, psychological and social aspects in 27 snoring patients and their partners presenting to a snoring clinic and compares them with a control group of 24 patients who had undergone successful Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) and their partners. All areas examined showed improvement in the non-snoring group, particularly for the patient. Improvement was demonstrated in the non-snoring group's quality of marital state (P < 0.01). Quality of life was improved (P < 0.05). Perceived inadequacies in support were significantly higher in the snoring group (P < 0.05). Evidence of psychiatric disorder apparent in the snoring group was not present in the control group (P < 0.01). This is the first study to demonstrate significant improvement in the quality of life in both patients and their partners, after successful surgery for simple snoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marais
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012913:Snoring / Q000601:surgery*; D018454:Spouses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery