title: A multi-centre study on quality of life and  absenteeism in patients with CRS referred for  endoscopic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study summarises the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores and absenteeism caused by sinus problems in patients awaiting surgery with the diagnoses recurrent acute rhinosinusitis (RARS), chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRS+NP) or CRS without nasal polyps (CRS-NP), in a prospective multi-centre study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and seven patients with RARS, CRS+NP or CRS-NP were enrolled. EP3OS definitions of CRS and NP were used. The patients completed the 22 Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), the short-form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and a total Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) regarding rhinosinusitis symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SNOT-22 and VAS scores indicated severe disease. Comparison of the HRQOL scores in the three rhinosinusitis subgroups showed statistical differences in nine of the SNOT-22 items and in the SF-36 subscale of bodily pain. Mean scores of SF-36 were significantly lower than that of the normal Swedish population. According to the HAD scores, 28% of the patients had probable or possible anxiety or depression disorder. Fifty-seven percent of the patients reported absenteeism from work due to sinus problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RARS, CRS+NP and CRS-NP significantly decrease HRQOL. Some statistically significant differences in HRQOL were found between the three rhinosinusitis subgroups. Absenteeism due to chronic sinus conditions is considerable.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Lund University, Malmo, Sweden. pernilla.sahlstrand_johnson@med.lu.se
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Sahlstrand-Johnson
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Ohlsson
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Von Buchwald
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Jannert
authors: Marianne
authors: M
authors: Ahlner-Elmqvist
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*