Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate nasal symptoms and assess the impact on quality of life in patients with nasal septal deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy, using the SNOT-22 and NOSE questionnaires.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 31 patients diagnosed with nasal septal deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy at the Department of Otolaryngology - Ophthalmology - Odontostomatology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, and the Department of Otolaryngology, Hue Central Hospital, from February 2024 to October 2024.

Results: Functional symptoms included nasal congestion in 83.9% of patients, nasal discharge in 61.3%, sneezing in 58.1%, facial pain in 58.1%, and olfactory disorders in 35.5%. Common types of septal deviation were curved deviation (61.3%), combined deviation (19.4%), spur (12.9%), and crest (6.4%). Inferior turbinate hypertrophy was present bilaterally in 71.0% of patients, primarily grade II hypertrophy. The median and standard deviation of the NOSE and the SNOT-22 scores were 35.00 ± 28.76 and 18.00 ± 17.19, respectively. The evaluation of the quality of life in these patients through the SNOT-22 and the NOSE questionnaires showed that most patients experienced mild symptoms, followed by moderate-to-severe symptoms.

Conclusion: The SNOT-22 and NOSE questionnaires have proven effective in assessing nasal symptoms and the quality of life of patients with septal deformities and inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Both questionnaires have a strong correlation, providing a comprehensive reflection of the impact of symptoms on the patients’ daily lives. The NOSE questionnaire focuses on nasal congestion symptoms, while the SNOT-22 expands the assessment to include symptoms related to sinus issues, adjacent organs, psychological disorders, and sleep disturbances. As a result, the study showed that the majority of patients experience symptoms ranging from mild to moderate-severe, providing useful information for management and treatment.