Gender-specific analysis of outcomes from endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis

Background: Women electing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) report higher symptom burden but have lower computed tomography (CT) scores. Gender-specific analysis of outcomes from ESS therefore merits further study. The objective of this work was to study gender-specific differences in outcomes from ESS for CRS by analyzing preoperative and postoperative 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scores.

Methods: Data from adult CRS patients electing ESS (2011-2013) were retrospectively collected. SNOT-22 total, rhinologic/nonrhinologic subdomain, and individual item scores were analyzed for gender-specific differences.

Results: Two hundred and forty-eight patients met study criteria (mean age 55.4 years; 49.6% female). Preoperatively, mean Lund-Mackay CT score was 11.1; average total SNOT-22 score was 41.9. Compared to men, women had lower CT score (10.2 vs 12.0; p = 0.004) but higher total SNOT-22 score (44.7 vs 39.1; p = 0.02). Both genders showed significant improvement in total SNOT-22 scores at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months following ESS (p < 0.001), with largely similar slopes of improvement. The greatest improvement occurred at 3 months (SNOT-22 decreased by 25.4 points), with stable improvement after 12 months (SNOT-22 decreased by 21.3 points). Higher total SNOT-22 scores in females were noted preoperatively and until 6 months post-ESS; these were driven by rhinologic and nonrhinologic-otolaryngic subdomain items. No gender differences in anxiety/depression prevalence or psychological subdomain scores were noted preoperatively or postoperatively.

Conclusion: Both male and female CRS patients showed significant and durable symptom relief following ESS. Women reported higher symptom burden prior to surgery, and in the early postoperative period. However, after 1-year post-ESS, both genders showed similar symptom scores. The trend and magnitude of improvement were similar in both genders.