Validation of the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 20 (SNOT-20) domains in nonsurgical patients.
BACKGROUND
The objectives of this study were, first, to confirm the presence of multiple domains within the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 20 (SNOT-20) using a medically treated population, and, second, to reanalyze data from this population to reveal incremental information. A prospective, randomized controlled trial was performed.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-seven adults with chronic rhinitis or rhinosinusitis symptoms were treated with nasal saline irrigation or spray. Treatment outcome was quality of life measured with SNOT-20 scores, which were reanalyzed for this study with a factor analysis. Differences in change scores were compared.


RESULTS
Factor analysis confirmed the presence of four domains: psychological function, sleep function, rhinological symptoms, and ear and/or facial symptoms. At 8 weeks after randomization, saline irrigation had significant effects on the rhinological symptom (p = 0.01) and sleep (p = 0.01) compared with saline spray, but no between-group difference was seen in psychological function or ear and/or facial symptom domains.


CONCLUSIONS
Subscales identified differences in the impact of two medical interventions on chronic sinonasal symptoms. Reporting subscale scores might improve the precision of the SNOT-20 instrument, allowing discrimination between various treatments and their differential impact on sinonasal quality of life.
Pynnonen
Melissa A
MA
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. pynnonen@umich.edu
Kim
H Myra
HM
Terrell
Jeffrey E
JE
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055556:Nasal Lavage / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D012965:Sodium Chloride