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A simple, quick, validated method of recording the nasal cycle in humans using a subjective scale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 November 2018

M R Williams  and
R Eccles
M R Williams*
Affiliation:
Deparment of ENT, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK
R Eccles
Affiliation:
Common Cold Centre, Cardiff University, Wales, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Mr Mark Robert Williams, Dept. of ENT, James Cook University Hospital, Marton Rd, Middlesbrough TS4 3BW, UK E-mail: mark.r.williams@doctors.org.uk
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Abstract

Background

Studies on the nasal cycle can be limited by time-consuming rhinomanometric measurements. However, quantifiable subjective assessment of nasal airflow has been limited by poor correlation with rhinomanometric data, even when investigating patients with a deviated nasal septum.

Methods

Thirty healthy participants attended two study days for rhinomanometric and subjective assessment of nasal airflow (using the subjective ordinal scale). A nasal partitioning ratio was calculated for both measures.

Results

Objective and subjective nasal partitioning ratios were compared; strong correlations were seen, with a correlation coefficient of 0.64 (p < 0.00001) on day 1 and 0.68 (p < 0.00001) on day 2.

Conclusion

The use of the subjective ordinal scale and nasal partitioning ratio provides a sensitive tool for assessing relative nasal airflow, with results that correlate strongly with rhinomanometric data. This finding strongly suggests that this combination could be used for future subjective assessment of the nasal cycle.

Keywords

RhinomanometryRhinometry, AcousticVisual Analog ScaleSelf-AssessmentNoseNasal Cavity
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 132 , Issue 12 , December 2018 , pp. 1067 - 1071
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2018 

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Footnotes

Mr M R Williams takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

A summary of this work was presented orally at the 4th Congress of European ORL-HNS, 11 October 2017, Barcelona, Spain.

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