Translation, adaption and validation of the total nasal symptom score (TNSS) for Lithuanian population

Abstract

Background Allergic rhinitis is one of the most prevalent allergic diseases worldwide which diagnosis is based on typical clinical signs and positive results of allergic tests. Selection and evaluation of treatment is based mainly on subjective symptoms. Objective measurement of patients’ complaints is necessary for proper documentation and follow-up. There are no short simple validated questionnaire assessing nasal symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis in Lithuania. Total nasal symptoms score (TNSS) is a brief questionnaire which evaluate the severity of main symptoms of allergic rhinitis widely used in different countries. Our aim was to translate the TNSS in the Lithuanian language and to validate it. Methods Prospective cross-cultural adaption and validation study was performed. Linguistic validation of TNSS was performed and validity and reliability were assessed. Patients with chronic allergic and non-allergic rhinitis and healthy individuals were included in this study. Patients had to complete translated version of TNSS. Patients with allergic rhinitis additionally were asked to fill Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ). Results Seventy-six individuals were involved into the study: 16 with non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) (21.1%), 49 with allergic rhinitis (AR) (64.5%) and 11 healthy individuals (14.5%). Cronbach’s α was 0.87. TNSS score was significantly higher in patients with NAR and AR compared with healthy individuals (3.56 ± 2.28 vs. 4.28 ± 2.46 vs. 0.27 ± 0.91). Positive significant correlation was found between TNSS score and RQLQ score (rs = 0.77, p < 0.01). Conclusions The Lithuanian version of the TNSS proved to be a valid instrument for assessing nasal symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Anxiety in adults with allergic rhinitis during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: A Canadian perspective

“…20 Now, there are a number of measures of AR control available to clinicians and researchers, including quality-of-life scores, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, and symptom scores like the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) and the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22). 20,[37][38][39] The findings of the CAAARES survey indicate that the severity of nonnose/eye symptoms in individuals with AR is more closely tied to anxiety than the traditional nose/eye symptoms -patients may be more concerned about symptoms like fatigue, reduced productivity, and poor concentration that represent greater functional limitations in their daily lives. Given this novel and significant finding, the RQLQ non-nose/eye domain score in particular may hold clinical utility as a treatment target and marker to assess AR control.…”

Higher Wheal Sizes of Dermatophagoides farinae Sensitization Exhibit Worse Nasal Symptoms in Allergic Rhinitis Patients

“…We acknowledge the limitations of the study as follows: (1) Small sample size; (2) Sample size calculation had been conducted previously according to past gene expression studies, but not studies pertaining to SPT wheal sizes in AR patients, as this study was part of our previously published cross-sectional gene expression study (23); (3) Lack of correlation studies with other symptom questionnaires such as the total nasal symptom score (TNSS) (44)(45)(46), or with the levels of total and specific IgE. Future investigations addressing these limitations are thus recommended.…”

role of IL-35 and IL-22 in patients with allergic rhinitis and their correlation with severity of disease in Najaf province

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