THE HEALTH IMPACT OF CHRONIC SINUSITIS IN PATIENTS SEEKING OTOLARYNGOLOGIC CARE

Although chronic sinusitis Is an increasingly common diagnosis in the United States, the health burden of this disorder relative to the gene ral population and to other chronic diseases has not been previously e valuated. One hundred fifty-eight patients with chronic sinusitis and no prior surgery underwent cross-sectional evaluation by use of the Me dical Outcome Study Short-form 36-item Health Survey. These patients w ere all referred for otolaryngologic care, and more than 80% subsequen tly underwent sinus surgery. Mean scores were compared from the eight subscales of general health assessment with similarly derived data for the United States general population. Significant differences (p < 0. 05) were seen in several domains, including bodily pain, general healt h, vitality, and social functioning, Comparisons with other chronic di seases revealed significantly lower scores (p < 0.05) in measures of b odily pain and social functioning for sinusitis patients than in patie nts with congestive heart failure, angina, chronic obstructive pulmona ry disease, and back pain. These findings suggest that the national he alth impact of chronic sinusitis is far greater than is currently appr eciated.