Objective measurement and patient-reported evaluation of the nasal airway: Is correlation dependent on symptoms or on nasal airflow?

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Xavier, R (Author) Other; Azeredo Lopes, S (Author) Other; Menger, DJ (Author) Other; de Carvalho, HC (Author) Other; Jorge Spratley (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Clinical Otolaryngology

ISSN: 1749-4478

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 9 Citations

Scopus - 7 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00T-HQE

DOI: 10.1111/coa.13726

Abstract (EN): Background Evidence has shown that the sensation of nasal breathing is related to variations in nasal mucosa temperature produced by airflow. An appropriate nasal airflow is necessary for changing mucosal temperature. Therefore, the correlation between objective measurements of nasal airflow and patient-reported evaluation of nasal breathing should be dependent on the level of nasal airflow. Objectives To find if the correlation between patient-reported assessment of nasal breathing and objective measurement of nasal airflow is dependent on the severity of symptoms of nasal obstruction or on the level of nasal airflow. Methods The airway of 79 patients was evaluated using NOSE score and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF). Three subgroups were created based on NOSE and three subgroups were created based on PNIF level to find if correlation was dependent on nasal symptoms or airflow. Results The mean value of PNIF for the 79 patients was 92.6 L/min (SD 28.1 L/min). The mean NOSE score was 48.4 (SD 24.4). The correlation between PNIF and NOSE was statistically significant (P = .03), but with a weak association between the two variables (r = -.248). Evaluation of correlation based on symptoms demonstrated a weak or very weak association in each subgroup (r = -.250, r = -.007, r = -.104). Evaluation of correlation based on nasal airflow demonstrated a very weak association for the subgroups with middle-level and high PNIF values (r = -.190, r = -.014), but a moderate association for the subgroup with low PNIF values (r = -.404). Conclusions This study demonstrated a weak correlation between NOSE scores and PNIF values in patients non-selected according to symptoms of nasal obstruction or to airflow. It demonstrated that patients with symptoms of nasal obstruction have different levels of nasal airflow and that low nasal airflow prevents the sensation of good nasal breathing. Therefore, patients with symptoms of nasal obstruction may require improving nasal airflow to improve nasal breathing sensation.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8