Long-term efficacy of radiofrequency treatment of turbinate hypertrophy: a patient based point of view.

Indian journal of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery : official publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India · 2013 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 3186

Study snapshot

PublicationIndian journal of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery : official publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India · 2013

Study typeother

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Nasal turbinate hypertrophy is a major cause of nasal airway obstruction that affects up to 20% of the European general population. This study aims to determine the efficacy of radiofrequency treatment as perceived by patients during a 2-years period. From 2007 to 2009, an observational study was conducted on 36 patients who consecutively underwent temperature-controlled radiofrequency tissue volume reduction. A questionnaire was administered to each patient in order to collect demographic data, lifestyle habits, health status and visual analogue scale (VAS) score of perceived symptoms. Mean VAS scores of nasal obstruction, headache, rhinorrhoea and anosmia after treatment were significantly lower than that at baseline. Urban residence and allergic rhinitis were significantly associated with lower mean improvement (2.9 vs. 5.6; P = 0.04 and 2.3 vs. 5.3; P = 0.01, respectively). A non significant association with scarce nasal obstruction improvement was present in older aged patients, in patients other than students and in active and passive smokers. Our data enrich the general knowledge on radiofrequency treatment of turbinate hypertrophy identifying the rate of long-term efficacy of radiofrequency treatment as perceived by patients and focusing on several risk factors involved in patient prognosis after treatment.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeother

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationPatients with nasal turbinate hypertrophy undergoing temperature-controlled radiofrequency tissue volume reduction

Sample size36

Exposure2 years follow-up

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In an observational study of 36 patients followed for 2 years after temperature-controlled radiofrequency tissue volume reduction, mean VAS scores for nasal obstruction, headache, rhinorrhoea, and anosmia were significantly lower after treatment than at baseline. Urban residence and allergic rhinitis were significantly associated with lower mean improvement; other factors (older age, non-student status, active/passive smoking) showed non-significant associations with less improvement.

Outcomes measured

Perceived nasal obstruction (VAS)
Headache (VAS)
Rhinorrhoea (VAS)
Anosmia (VAS)
Associations of improvement with urban residence
Associations of improvement with allergic rhinitis
Associations of improvement with age
Associations of improvement with occupation/student status
Associations of improvement with active/passive smoking

Limitations

Observational (non-randomized) design
Small sample size (n=36)
Outcomes based on patient-reported questionnaire/VAS
No exposure parameters reported (e.g., frequency, power, SAR)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "medical radiofrequency treatment",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "2 years follow-up"
  },
  "population": "Patients with nasal turbinate hypertrophy undergoing temperature-controlled radiofrequency tissue volume reduction",
  "sample_size": 36,
  "outcomes": [
    "Perceived nasal obstruction (VAS)",
    "Headache (VAS)",
    "Rhinorrhoea (VAS)",
    "Anosmia (VAS)",
    "Associations of improvement with urban residence",
    "Associations of improvement with allergic rhinitis",
    "Associations of improvement with age",
    "Associations of improvement with occupation/student status",
    "Associations of improvement with active/passive smoking"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In an observational study of 36 patients followed for 2 years after temperature-controlled radiofrequency tissue volume reduction, mean VAS scores for nasal obstruction, headache, rhinorrhoea, and anosmia were significantly lower after treatment than at baseline. Urban residence and allergic rhinitis were significantly associated with lower mean improvement; other factors (older age, non-student status, active/passive smoking) showed non-significant associations with less improvement.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Observational (non-randomized) design",
    "Small sample size (n=36)",
    "Outcomes based on patient-reported questionnaire/VAS",
    "No exposure parameters reported (e.g., frequency, power, SAR)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency treatment",
    "turbinate hypertrophy",
    "nasal obstruction",
    "tissue volume reduction",
    "patient-reported outcomes",
    "VAS",
    "allergic rhinitis",
    "smoking",
    "urban residence",
    "long-term efficacy"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1007/s12070-011-0337-0
PubMed: 24427651

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