Impact of gender on general health-related quality of life in patients with chronic sinusitis

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of gender on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with chronic sinusitis Methods: A prospectively administered survey was performed. For measuring HRQOL, we used the German versions of the Short Form 36 (SF-36; eight subscales) and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) (two subscales). For all SF-36 subscales we used norm-based scoring of the general German population. Results: One hundred twenty-three patients (45 women and 78 men) underwent HRQOL evaluation at baseline (preoperatively) and 3 months after endonasal sinus surgery. Compared with male patients, female patients scored a significantly worse baseline in all SF-36 and one EQ-5D subscales and 3 months later in only one SF-36 subscale. Compared with the normbased scores, both women's and men's SF-36 scores reached normal levels in seven subscales after 3 months. Conclusion: Compared with men, women assessed preoperative HRQOL as being worse. Most women's and men's SF-36 subscales reached normal levels at the 3-month follow-up.