Using the sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT-22) to study outcome of treatment of nasal obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT-22) as an outcome measure for nasal obstruction, and to determine if it correlates with the nasal obstruction and septoplasty effectiveness (NOSE) scale.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

METHODS: All patients presenting to our otolaryngology clinic for nasal obstruction secondary to nasal septal deviation and/or inferior turbinate hypertrophy between August 2020 and June 2022 were asked to fill both the SNOT-22 and the NOSE questionnaires. Demographics and comorbidities were reviewed. Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) were excluded. SNOT-22 total and subdomain scores were then compared to NOSE scores.

RESULTS: 126 patients completed both surveys. Average age was 42.6 years (range 13.8-78.3 years), and 40.5 % were female. 35 patients had septoplasty and inferior turbinoplasty (IT), 34 had functional septorhinoplasty and IT, 6 patients had IT, 7 had nasal septal perforation repair and 44 patients had medical treatment. Overall, SNOT-22 and NOSE scores correlated well preoperatively and postoperatively (r = 0.54, p < 0.0001; r = 0.68, p < 0.0001 respectively). The rhinologic and sleep SNOT-22 subdomains scores had the strongest correlation to NOSE score (r = 0.56, p < 0.0001; r = 0.64, p < 0.0001 respectively). Both NOSE and SNOT-22 scores showed improvement postoperatively [NOSE: 67.4 vs 25.1 (p < 0.0001) at 3 months, 69.5 vs 34 (p < 0.0001) at 6 months; SNOT-22: 37.1 vs 25.2 (p = 0.002) at 3 months, 38.1 vs 22.6 (p = 0.002) at 6 months]. No significant improvement in NOSE or SNOT scores was seen in the medical treatment group.

CONCLUSION: SNOT-22 instrument can be used to study the outcome of treatment for nasal obstruction secondary to nasal septal deviation and/or inferior turbinate hypertrophy.