Comparison of Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 Symptom Scores in Rhinogenic and Odontogenic Sinusitis

Abstract

Background Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS) and rhinogenic sinusitis (RS) are the main types of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and have a significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL), but the difference in HRQL and symptom presentation between them has not been specifically evaluated to date. Obejctive: Our aim was to compare patterns of symptoms and HRQL disease-specific domains in patients affected with these 2 types of CRS. Methods A group of 201 patients with CRS (99 with rhinogenic and 102 with odontogenic origin) completed the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22) questionnaire before treatment. Data sets were analyzed by using principal component analysis (PCA) to identify a set of symptom components together with the items excluded from PCA, which were then analyzed for differences between patients with OMS and RS. Results PCA of SNOT-22 items identified 5 components: “rhinologic,” “extranasal rhinologic,” “ear/facial,” “sleep and functional disturbance,” and “emotional disturbance.” Sneezing was excluded from PCA and treated as separate outcome variable and was significantly worse in RS patients. Patients with OMS scored significantly higher scores with regard to emotional disturbance, while RS patients scored significantly worse in sleep and functional disturbance. The extra symptom “malodor” was the most different symptom and was significantly worse in OMS patients. The total SNOT-22 score was not significantly different between the groups. Conclusion With controlling of covariates that may influence the severity of the disease, this study showed some significant differences in symptom patterns and HRQL impairment between patients with OMS and RS. Malodor is the most characteristic feature of OMS. Therefore, OMS should always be suspected in patients complaining of bad breath.