Effectiveness evaluation of the complex therapy in subjects after acute rhinosinusitis treatment using quality of life measurement

Abstract

Introduction. The therapy to treat acute infectious diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses aims to improve the quality of life throughout the disease course and prevent its complications. Acute rhinosinusitis follows a mild to moderate clinical course in most cases, which entails low medical aid appealability.Aim. To analyse health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients throughout acute viral rhinosinusitis course and within 2 weeks after illness.Materials and methods. A SF-36 survey was conducted 2 weeks after the date of recovery specified in the out-patient medical records, i.e., a 4-week period of life during which a patient experienced acute viral rhinosinusitis was to be assessed. The division into groups was carried out according to a retrospective analysis of the treatment regimen used. The test data were processed using Z-statistics. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare differences between the groups.Results and discussion. Health-related quality of life depends on the disease treatment strategy applied. An observational approach comprising on-demand use of nasal decongestants and nasal moisturisers was associated with a physical health level of 30.55 ± 2.74 scores and a mental health of 32.59 ± 1.47 scores out of 100 scores possible. In patients receiving nasal decongestants and nasal moisturisers, antiviral drugs (regardless of the route of administration), and expectorants, the physical health level was determined as 34.76 ± 2.78 scores, whereas the mental health level as 33.26 ± 2.52 scores. The patients who used decongestants, nasal moisturisers and herbal medicines with anti-inflammatory and mucolytic properties for the treatment showed the highest scores in physical (39.02 ± 2.23 points) and mental health (34.35 ± 2.34 points).Conclusion. Acute viral rhinosinusitis significantly impairs the patient’s quality of life both during the illness and over the following 2 weeks. The deterioration of the physical health component is accompanied by a comparable level of deterioration of mental health. In addition to nasal congestion, the subjective symptom complex in acute viral rhinosinusitis includes a physical weakness combined with pain and feeling of oppression.