The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale is a widely used patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for assessing nasal obstruction pre-operatively and post-operatively.
It consists of a 5-item questionnaire that generates a score from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more severe nasal obstruction.
A score of 30 or higher is considered the threshold that most accurately distinguishes patients with nasal obstruction from those without.
By comparing scores from round 1 (pre-operative) and round 2 (post-operative), clinicians can evaluate the effectiveness of surgical interventions in reducing nasal obstruction. A significant reduction in the NOSE score from round 1 to round 2 indicates successful treatment and improvement in the patient's nasal airway function.
Score Ranges:
Mild Obstruction: Scores between 5 and 25.
Moderate Obstruction: Scores between 30 and 50.
Severe Obstruction: Scores between 55 and 75.
Extreme Obstruction: Scores between 80 and 100.
Differences Between Round 1 and Round 2
Pre-operative NOSE scores typically range widely, with a mean score around 67.75, indicating a high level of obstruction before surgery.
Post-operative scores generally decrease significantly, with a mean score around 25.14, reflecting improvement after surgical intervention.