Disease‐Specific Improvements Predict Long‐Term Global Quality of Life After Functional Rhinoplasty
Max Feng, Roy Qu, Aishwarya Suresh, Julianne Byun, Jennifer FullerABSTRACT
Objective
Functional rhinoplasty can improve disease‐specific quality of life (QoL) domains. However, less is understood about its association with global health‐related QoL outcomes. The goal of this study is to evaluate the relationship between disease‐specific and long‐term global QoL outcomes following functional rhinoplasty.
Methods
Prospective cohort study at a tertiary medical center of patients undergoing functional rhinoplasty for nasal airway obstruction.
Results
Fifty patients (58% female, 42% male), with a mean age of 38.5 (StD 14.7), were surveyed. Baseline and long term (> 6 months) follow up Euroqol‐5D (EQ‐5D) and Standard Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS) questionnaires were collected. Mean baseline SCHNOS‐Obstructive (SCHNOS‐O) score improved from 77.5 (95% CI: 71.5–83.5) to 22.7 (95% CI: 14.4–31.1) at follow up. Mean SCHNOS‐Cosmesis (SCHNOS‐C) score improved from 44.9 (95% CI: 33.9–56.0) to 13.9 (95% CI: 8.9–21.1). A higher SCHNOS‐O is a significant predictor for expressing pain/discomfort at follow up ( p = 0.011). A higher SCHNOS‐C is a significant predictor for expressing anxiety/depression at follow up ( p = 0.019). There is no relationship between SCHNOS‐O/SCHNOS‐C and mobility, self‐care, or activity. A greater improvement in SCHNOS‐O is associated with less anxiety/depression ( p = 0.03) and pain/discomfort ( p = 0.02) at follow up. However, a greater improvement in SCHNOS‐C is not significantly associated with anxiety/depression ( p = 0.678) or pain/discomfort ( p = 0.558) at follow up. Patients who expressed anxiety/depression at baseline are more likely to express anxiety/depression at follow up.
Conclusion
Patients with long‐term improvements in nasal obstruction, but not cosmesis, are less likely to report long‐term anxiety/depression and pain/discomfort following functional rhinoplasty.
Level of Evidence
4.