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Comparison of acoustic rhinometry and nasal inspiratory peak flow as objective tools for nasal obstruction assessment in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a disease with increasing incidence, characterized by persistent symptoms and negative impact on patient`s quality of life. Nasal inspiratory peak flow (NIPF) and acoustic rhinometry (AR) were studied and compared as assessment tools for CRS with or without nasal polyps (NP), as well as, in follow up monitoring of conservative medical treatment. Objectives: Seventy-eight patients were prospectively studied. Objective assessment included NIPF and AR at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks after onset medical treatment. Measurements were studied in correlation with Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and endoscopic appearance score (EAS). Results: Both NIPF and AR improved significantly, after medical treatment. NIPF score reflected CRS symptoms` improvement according to SNOT-22 total score at the end of treatment protocol, showing moderate to strong correlation with nasal obstruction VAS grading during the treatment period. AR measures were associated with EAS in all sets of examinations and correlated moderately with VAS scoring at 8 weeks. Conclusion: NIPF and AR were proven to be promising methods for objective evaluation and monitoring of nasal obstruction based on different aspects of nasal physiology in patients with CRS.