The impact of asthma and aspirin sensitivity on quality of life of patients with nasal polyposis.
BACKGROUND
Nasal polyposis is not a life-threatening disease but may have a great impact on patient's quality of life.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the impact of nasal polyps on quality of life compared with the Spanish general population using the SF-36 questionnaire; and to evaluate the impact of asthma and aspirin sensitivity on quality of life in patients with nasal polyposis.


METHODS
We included 130 patients with nasal polyposis and evaluated nasal symptom, CT scan, polyp size, and quality of life.


RESULTS
In comparison with the Spanish general population, patients with nasal polyposis had worse scores on all SF-36 domains except for physical functioning. Asthmatic patients with nasal polyposis had worse quality of life than nonasthmatic patients on role physical, body pain, and vitality (p < 0.05). The authors found no significant differences on quality of life, nasal symptoms, polyp size, and CT scan scores between patients with aspirin-tolerant and aspirin-sensitive asthma.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that nasal polyposis has a considerable impact on quality of life. Moreover, asthma but not aspirin sensitivity has an additional negative impact on the quality of life of patients with nasal polyposis.
Alobid
Isam
I
Rhinology Unit, Department of Otorhinolaryngology (ICEMEQ), University of Barcelona, Spain.
Benítez
Pedro
P
Bernal-Sprekelsen
Manuel
M
Guilemany
José María
JM
Picado
Cesar
C
Mullol
Joaquim
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013030:Spain
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001241:Aspirin