What happens to patients with nasal stuffiness and pathological rhinomanometry left without surgery?

In this study we explored long term outcomes of patients with nasal stuffiness and high nasal airway resistance (NAR) that did not undergo nasal surgery. The same investigation was repeated on average 8 years after a baseline investigation with an ENT-examination, a rhinomanometric survey and a rhinomanometry. We did follow-up investigations in 44 out of 59 non-operated patients with a pathological NAR on at least one side. At follow-up 2 persons (4%) had no complaints, 14 (32%) had reduced, 22 (50%) unchanged, and 6 (14%) increased complaints of nasal stuffiness. Rhinomanometry showed that NAR values decreased significantly between baseline and follow-up on both wider and narrower sides after decongestion. There was no correlation between subjective nasal complaints and NAR-values. In logistic regression models increasing age and allergy prevalence at baseline were significantly associated with having no, or reduced nasal stuffiness at follow-up. The results show that both NAR and subjective nasal stuffiness decreased with age. Consequently, we suggest that NAR normal values should be age adjusted. Also, a wait and see policy towards nasal stuffiness seems relevant since 36% of our patients had no or reduced nasal stuffiness while their NAR-values were reduced after 8 years.