Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, 52621, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Dec;278(12):4805-4811. doi: 10.1007/s00405-021-06752-2. Epub 2021 Mar 27.
To study different mask types' impact on a sinonasal quality of life.
For this observational cross-sectional study, a web-based survey was distributed via social media forums. We used the validated Hebrew version of the Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 followed by a questionnaire developed specifically for the present study, focusing on the time of the COVID-19 pandemic (Mask Sinonasal Outcome Test), and questions regarding general health issues. The participants' mask-wearing routine was also studied.
Seventy percent of 351 participants had experienced a change in their breathing during the time of the pandemic. The median total Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 score was 13, and 10% of the participants reported a significantly impaired quality of life. According to multivariate analyses, the only subject-related variables significantly associated with the reduced sinonasal quality of life were female gender, younger age, a background of chronic rhinitis and sinusitis, and the mask-wearing average daily duration. The mask sinonasal outcome test convergent validity was confirmed.
The majority of our survey's responders, predominantly female and younger participants, reported reduced sinonasal quality of life in the COVID-19 pandemic period. It can be attributed to mask-wearing, especially for a prolonged time, irrespective of the existing mask type. These findings should encourage medical companies to produce more "airway-minded" personal protection equipment.
研究不同类型口罩对鼻腔鼻窦生活质量的影响。
本观察性横断面研究通过社交媒体论坛发布了在线调查。我们使用了经过验证的希伯来语版鼻-鼻窦结局测试-22（Sinonasal Outcome Test-22），并附有专门为本研究开发的问卷，重点关注 COVID-19 大流行期间的口罩使用情况（口罩鼻-鼻窦结局测试）以及一般健康问题。还研究了参与者的口罩佩戴习惯。
351 名参与者中有 70%在大流行期间经历了呼吸变化。中位总分鼻-鼻窦结局测试-22 评分为 13，10%的参与者报告生活质量明显受损。根据多变量分析，与鼻腔鼻窦生活质量下降显著相关的唯一与受试者相关的变量是女性、年龄较小、慢性鼻炎和鼻窦炎病史以及口罩平均每日佩戴时间。口罩鼻-鼻窦结局测试的收敛效度得到了确认。
我们调查的大多数应答者，主要是女性和年轻参与者，在 COVID-19 大流行期间报告鼻腔鼻窦生活质量下降。这可能归因于口罩的使用，尤其是长时间佩戴，而与现有的口罩类型无关。这些发现应鼓励医疗保健公司生产更多“关注气道”的个人防护设备。
