The impact of atopy, sinus opacification, and nasal patency on quality of life in patients with severe nasal polyposis

OBJECTIVES: Nasal polyposis has a great impact on the quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between quality of life and atopy, sinus opacification, and nasal patency in severe nasal polyposis. METHODS: One hundred nine patients completed the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) survey. Symptoms, polyp size, atopy, nasal patency, and sinus opacification were also scored. RESULTS: Patients showed worse scores in all SF-36 domains, except for physical functioning, compared with Spanish population. Atopic patients had worse scores in role physical, body pain, vitality, and mental health than nonatopic patients. Atopic patients showed lower physical component summary (44.7 +/- 1.1) and mental component summary (38.4 +/- 1.0) than nonatopic patients (48.3 +/- 1.6, 40.6 +/- 1.3; P < 0.05), respectively. There were no correlations between quality of life and symptoms, polyp size, T scan, nasal patency, and atopy. CONCLUSION: Nasal polyposis has a considerable impact on quality of life and atopy worsens this impact. (c) 2006 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved.