OBJECTIVETo explore the health-related quality of life (QOL) status of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps and two hundred individuals passing health examination were enrolled by random and their QOL scores were assessed by using QOL instruments including existing SF-36 questionnaire (Chinese version ) and SNOT-20 questionnaire translated into Chinese, of which clinimetric and psychometric properties were tested.

RESULTSThe feasibility, reliability, validity, and responsibility of Chinese version of SNOT-20 questionnaire all passed the test. By the assessment of SF-36 questionnaire, it revealed that scores of six domains such as physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, mental health, vitality, and general health from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps were lower than that of control group except social functioning and role emotional (P < 0.05). It showed by Chinese version of SNOT-20 questionnaire that patients exceeded healthy individuals in the scores of twenty items of three domains including physical problems, functional limitations, and emotional consequences, of which the most five important items affecting health status were respectively need to blow nose, thick nasal discharge, lack of a good night's sleep, dizziness, and post-nasal discharge (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSQOL instruments such as Chinese version of SF-36 and SNOT-20 questionnaires can effectively differentiate the QOL status between patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps and healthy individuals. The negative impact of chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps on patients' QOL includes physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, mental health, vitality, general health, and emotional consequences. The problems of nasal discharge, sleep, and dizziness should be sufficiently emphasized in clinical treatment.