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Younger Age, Conscientiousness Rate Associated with Activity Avoidance in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

by Linda Kossoff •

What are the characteristics associated with avoidance of daily activities in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS)?

BOTTOM LINE

Younger age and the conscientious personality trait are associated with activity avoidance, and emotional traits and personality most strongly predict such avoidance.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis is multifactorial in etiology and has a wide range of symptomatology. There has been increasing emphasis on the impact of CRS on health-related domains such as quality of life and productivity. The impact of personality and emotional well-being on CRS outcomes and productivity has recently been of interest.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

SETTING: Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.

SYNOPSIS: Researchers recruited 194 patients with CRS (45.9% males, 54.1% female, mean age 51.9 years). Patients’ CRS symptom burden was assessed with the 22-item Sino Nasal Outcomes Test; depressed mood was assessed using the two-item Patient Health Questionnaire; and personality traits were assessed using the Big Five Inventory-10 (BFI-10) questionnaire. Patients rated how often in the prior week that they had avoided activities in day-to-day life due to their CRS symptoms. Results of the investigators’ multivariable analysis showed that younger age, emotional symptoms related to sadness and embarrassment, and the conscientious personality trait (which has previously been associated with both increased and decreased purpose in life) were most strongly associated with avoidance of daily activities in these patients. These findings might improve physician awareness as to the way in which CRS may impact patient behaviors, including functional impairment as a measure by avoidance of activities or decreased productivity. Study limitations included its cross-sectional nature (as opposed to a prospective study) and the encompassing designation of “all daily living activities.”

CITATION: Epperson MV, Phillips KM, Speth MM, et al. Emotional and personality traits are determinants of activity avoidance in chronic rhinosinusitis patients. Laryngoscope. 2021;131:707-712.