The effect of tonsillectomy on the morbidity from recurrent tonsillitis

Background Tonsillitis is a common condition with an incidence in UK general practice of 37 per 1000 population a year.1 Recurrent tonsillitis results in significant morbidity and impacts on individuals’ quality of life. This study assesses the morbidity and quality of life of adults with recurre...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Douglas, Catriona M., Lang, Kerry, Whitmer, William M., Wilson, Janet A., Mackenzie, Kenneth
Format: Article
Published: Wiley 2017
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49744/
_version_ 1848798067369705472
author Douglas, Catriona M.
Lang, Kerry
Whitmer, William M.
Wilson, Janet A.
Mackenzie, Kenneth
author_facet Douglas, Catriona M.
Lang, Kerry
Whitmer, William M.
Wilson, Janet A.
Mackenzie, Kenneth
author_sort Douglas, Catriona M.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Background Tonsillitis is a common condition with an incidence in UK general practice of 37 per 1000 population a year.1 Recurrent tonsillitis results in significant morbidity and impacts on individuals’ quality of life. This study assesses the morbidity and quality of life of adults with recurrent tonsillitis, and the impact of surgical intervention on their health state. Objectives To describe disease-specific and global quality of life for adults with recurrent tonsillitis 6 months after tonsillectomy, using two instruments: the health impact of throat problems (HITP) and EuroQol-visual analogue scale questionnaire. To assess the overall health benefit from tonsillectomy as an intervention using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI). To assess potential predictors of tonsillectomy benefit. Design A prospective, observational cohort audit of patients who have fulfilled Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) criteria for tonsillectomy.2 Setting Secondary care, teaching hospital. Participants Seventy patients (57 female), median age 20 years (range 13-41). Results Median preoperative HITP was 47 (range 15-67), compared to 4 (0-72), (P<.001) 6 months following surgery. Median HITP difference was 39.5 (range −20 to 75). There was no significant change in global Quality of Life. Median overall 6 months GBI was 39 (−3 to 100). Patients had an average of 27 episodes of tonsillitis over a period of seven years before “achieving” tonsillectomy, significantly higher than the SIGN guidelines of three or more episodes over three years. Conclusions Recurrent tonsillitis causes a poor disease-specific quality of life. Patients experienced a median of three episodes per year for seven years before tonsillectomy. Following tonsillectomy, patients had a significant improvement in their disease-specific quality of life. Baseline HITP significantly improved after tonsillectomy. The results imply patients with recurrent acute tonsillitis may be experiencing undue delay
first_indexed 2025-11-14T20:13:53Z
format Article
id nottingham-49744
institution University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T20:13:53Z
publishDate 2017
publisher Wiley
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling nottingham-497442024-08-15T15:31:25Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49744/ The effect of tonsillectomy on the morbidity from recurrent tonsillitis Douglas, Catriona M. Lang, Kerry Whitmer, William M. Wilson, Janet A. Mackenzie, Kenneth Background Tonsillitis is a common condition with an incidence in UK general practice of 37 per 1000 population a year.1 Recurrent tonsillitis results in significant morbidity and impacts on individuals’ quality of life. This study assesses the morbidity and quality of life of adults with recurrent tonsillitis, and the impact of surgical intervention on their health state. Objectives To describe disease-specific and global quality of life for adults with recurrent tonsillitis 6 months after tonsillectomy, using two instruments: the health impact of throat problems (HITP) and EuroQol-visual analogue scale questionnaire. To assess the overall health benefit from tonsillectomy as an intervention using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI). To assess potential predictors of tonsillectomy benefit. Design A prospective, observational cohort audit of patients who have fulfilled Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) criteria for tonsillectomy.2 Setting Secondary care, teaching hospital. Participants Seventy patients (57 female), median age 20 years (range 13-41). Results Median preoperative HITP was 47 (range 15-67), compared to 4 (0-72), (P<.001) 6 months following surgery. Median HITP difference was 39.5 (range −20 to 75). There was no significant change in global Quality of Life. Median overall 6 months GBI was 39 (−3 to 100). Patients had an average of 27 episodes of tonsillitis over a period of seven years before “achieving” tonsillectomy, significantly higher than the SIGN guidelines of three or more episodes over three years. Conclusions Recurrent tonsillitis causes a poor disease-specific quality of life. Patients experienced a median of three episodes per year for seven years before tonsillectomy. Following tonsillectomy, patients had a significant improvement in their disease-specific quality of life. Baseline HITP significantly improved after tonsillectomy. The results imply patients with recurrent acute tonsillitis may be experiencing undue delay Wiley 2017-12 Article PeerReviewed Douglas, Catriona M., Lang, Kerry, Whitmer, William M., Wilson, Janet A. and Mackenzie, Kenneth (2017) The effect of tonsillectomy on the morbidity from recurrent tonsillitis. Clinical Otolaryngology, 42 (6). pp. 1206-1210. ISSN 1749-4486 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/coa.12850/full doi:10.1111/coa.12850 doi:10.1111/coa.12850
spellingShingle Douglas, Catriona M.
Lang, Kerry
Whitmer, William M.
Wilson, Janet A.
Mackenzie, Kenneth
The effect of tonsillectomy on the morbidity from recurrent tonsillitis
title The effect of tonsillectomy on the morbidity from recurrent tonsillitis
title_full The effect of tonsillectomy on the morbidity from recurrent tonsillitis
title_fullStr The effect of tonsillectomy on the morbidity from recurrent tonsillitis
title_full_unstemmed The effect of tonsillectomy on the morbidity from recurrent tonsillitis
title_short The effect of tonsillectomy on the morbidity from recurrent tonsillitis
title_sort effect of tonsillectomy on the morbidity from recurrent tonsillitis
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49744/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49744/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49744/