What is the impact of surgery on the sleep and sexual function of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS)?
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August 2010Background: Recent evaluations of the effects of CRS on the quality of life (QoL) have shown that CRS has a significant QoL impact even in comparison with chronic debilitating diseases such as diabetes and congestive heart failure. Recent interest has focused on the QoL aspects of sleep and sexual function.
Study design: Retrospective review of CRS patients who have undergone endoscopic sinus surgery
Setting: Cleveland Clinic, Ohio; Oregon Health and Science University, Portland; and Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
Synopsis: For 113 patients with CRS who completed the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index (RSDI) prior to surgery and at least nine months following endoscopic sinus surgery, the researchers found that mean response scores regarding both sexual activity and sleep between preoperative and postoperative scores showed improvement post-surgery. The same surgeon performed all the endoscopic sinus surgery, with 66 percent of the patients undergoing revision surgery. The only subgroup analysis that did not show a significant improvement was in subjects with aspirin intolerance.
The authors suggested that longer-term follow-up would be valuable in determining whether the results of this study are sustainable. Another limitation noted was the lack of assessment of medical therapy as a confounding factor in the postoperative improvement. The authors added that this is a common limitation in outcomes studies in patients with CRS, because medical therapy is tailored to the individual case and to curbing inflammation in the postoperative period.
Bottom line: Patients who choose surgical treatment may experience improvement in sleep and sexual function based on their responses to the RSDI.
Citation: Benninger MS, Khalid AN, Benninger RM, et al. Surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis may improve sleep and sexual function. Laryngoscope. 2010; 120(8):1696-1700.
—Reviewed by Sue Pondrom