The predictive value of the preoperative Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 score in patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis

Objectives/hypothesis: With the aim of facilitating preference-sensitive decision making regarding elective endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), we set out to evaluate the predictive value of the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) patient-reported outcome measure and to compare outcomes of a UK cohort with a similar United States/Canadian-based study.

Study design: Prospective observational cohort study,

Methods: Patients electing ESS in 87 UK hospitals were enrolled. The primary outcome was change in SNOT-22 score 3 months after surgery. Patients were categorized according to baseline SNOT-22 score, and the proportion of patients achieving a SNOT-22 minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 8.9 was calculated, as well as the percentage change in SNOT-22 score.

Results: A total of 2,263 patients were included within this study. There was an average 40% reduction in SNOT-22 scores following surgery, and 66% of patients overall achieved the MCID. The proportion of patients achieving the MCID increased significantly with increasing baseline SNOT-22. Patients with a preoperative score of <20 failed to achieve a mean improvement greater than the MCID. Patients with a score of >30 had a greater than 70% chance of achieving the MCID. CRS patients with polyps had greater improvement than patients with CRS without polyps. The predictive value of the SNOT-22 is similar in the UK cohort, although overall patients did not benefit from surgery as much as their North American counterparts.

Conclusions: Medically recalcitrant patients with CRS considering surgery should make decisions guided by their preoperative quality-of-life impairment, as measured by the SNOT-22.

Level of evidence: 2b