Abstract
Background: Cognitive dysfunction and its relationship to both pain and disease-specific quality of life (QOL) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) have not been investigated previously. We sought to analyze the correlations of pain and disease-specific QOL with cognitive function in CRS. Methods: Adults with CRS were prospectively enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Participants' cognitive function was assessed using the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire. Pain was characterized using the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and the Brief Pain Inventory Short Form. Disease-specific QOL was ascertained using the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index (RSDI) and 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). Disease severity was assessed using nasal endoscopy and computed tomography. Bivariate correlations of pain and cognitive dysfunction, disease-specific QOL, and clinical measures of disease severity were ascertained. Results: In patients with CRS (n = 70) there was a significant correlation between cognitive dysfunction and pain severity scores (Spearman's correlation [Rs] = 0.321, p < 0.01). A similar correlation was identified with pain interference (Rs = 0.317, p < 0.01) and cognitive dysfunction scores. This is mirrored by a significant correlation between another measure of pain severity, the SF-MPQ and cognitive dysfunction (Rs = 0.498, p < 0.01). In patients with CRS there was a significant correlation between disease-specific QOL scores and cognitive function scores as measured by the SNOT-22 (Rs = 0.395, p < 0.01) and the RSDI (Rs = 0.528, p < 0.01). Conclusion: In patients with CRS, increasing pain and worse QOL are associated with cognitive dysfunction. Possible mechanisms for this cognitive dysfunction include differential neural activation secondary to chronic pain and/or the sequela of a chronic inflammatory state.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1004-1009 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 1 2015 |
Keywords
- Chronic disease
- Chronic pain
- Cognition
- Quality of life
- Rhinitis
- Rhinosinusitis
- Sinusitis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Otorhinolaryngology