Normative data for interpreting the SNOT-22

Objectives

The Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22) is a validated patient-reported outcome instrument to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). There are no published normative SNOT-22 scores, limiting its interpretation.

Methods

Symptom scores from 1,000 SNOT-22 questionnaires were analysed by principal component analysis (PCA) and exploratory factor analyses. Data were derived from a survey with 1,000 healthy Europeans (reference cohort) who were recruited using the Respondi panel for market and social science research. This subsample was quoted to the population distribution of the German Microcensus and selected from a non-probability panel.

Results

The overall normative SNOT-22 score can be detected to be 20.2 ± 19.44. Male (18.49 ± 19.15) and older (> 50 years old; 18.3 ± 17.49) participants had overall lower SNOT-22 mean results than females (21.8 ± 19.6) and younger (21.4 ± 20.55) participants, indicating higher levels of satisfaction. PCA proposed two SNOT-22 domains ("physiological well-being" and "psychological well-being"), which explained 65% of the variance.

Conclusions

These are the first published (German) normative scores for the SNOT-22 and provide a clinical reference point for the interpretation of data.

An online platform and a dynamic database for neuropsychological assessment in Indonesia

Proper use of neuropsychological tests in Indonesia is hindered by a lack of properly adapted neurocognitive tests as well as an absence of normative data. In 2016, we started adapting ten of these tests for use in Indonesia and collected data from healthy participants in Java. Here we introduce and propose a system that will facilitate the proper usage and interpretation of test scores: an online platform and a dynamic database. Newly collected data (492 healthy adults) of the Indonesian version of the Boston Naming Test (I-BNT) were used to illustrate the usefulness of the two functions. Analysis of variances, post-hoc tests, and a simulation study revealed the effects of age and education on the I-BNT, indicating that it is imperative to fine-tune the reference group based on these demographic factors. Putative inadequate sample size issues for obtaining reliable normative scores were overcome by employing regression analyses and the prediction of normative scores. It can be concluded that a flexible online platform is available for the calculation of normative scores either based on the whole population, on fine-tuned reference groups, or on predicted scores. The dynamic database's growth will allow to obtain even more fine-tuned and more reliable reference data as well as more accurate predictions. Fine-tuned reference data are badly needed for the heterogenous Indonesian population.

Normative Scores on the Norwegian Version of the Mini-Mental State Examination

BACKGROUND

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), a simple test for measuring global cognitive function, is frequently used to evaluate cognition in older adults. To decide whether a score on the test indicates a significant deviation from the mean score, normative scores should be defined. Moreover, because the test may vary depending on its translation and cultural differences, normative scores should be established for national versions of the MMSE.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to examine normative scores for the third Norwegian version of the MMSE.

METHODS

We used data from two sources: the Norwegian Registry of Persons Assessed for Cognitive Symptoms (NorCog) and the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT). After persons with dementia, mild cognitive impairment, and disorders that may cause cognitive impairment were excluded, the sample contained 1,050 cognitively healthy persons, 860 from NorCog, and 190 from HUNT, whose data we subjected to regression analyses.

RESULTS

The normative MMSE score varied from 25 to 29, depending on years of education and age. More years of education and younger age were associated with higher MMSE scores, and years of education was the strongest predictor.

CONCLUSION

Mean normative MMSE scores depend on test takers' years of education and age, with level of education being the strongest predictor.

Normative scores for select neuropsychological battery tests for the detection of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder amongst Nigerians

BACKGROUND

The study aimed to derive socio-demographic-corrected norms for selecting neuropsychological (NP) battery tests for people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in Nigeria. This cross-sectional study was conducted amongst patients who attended the general outpatient clinic and junior staff of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To determine the normative scores for select neuropsychological battery test for the detection of neurocognitive disorder amongst Nigerians PLWHIV. A sample of 92 individuals received voluntary HIV testing.

METHODS

Eligibility criteria were being HIV negative, aged 18-64 years and formal education. We undertook a brief neuromedical examination to identify putative exclusion criteria. We sampled four NP tests covering seven cognitive domains and the motor speed component of the International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS-MS). We presented the normative scores using statistics of mean, median, standard deviation (SD), kurtosis and skewness.

RESULTS

All the participants were Nigerians aged 18-64 years. Most (74.1%) of the participants were females. The mean and median ages of the participants were 42.6 ± 11.42 years and 44 years, respectively. The effect of gender on NP performance was limited to the digit span test (DST)-forwards, while education affected all expect IHDS-MS and DST-backwards. The cut-off scores for defining mild and severe impairment varied (moving from 1SD to 2SD) for all cognitive domains except for IHDS-MS and DST.

CONCLUSIONS

With these preliminary normative scores, it will be easier to identify and classify the severity of neurocognitive impairment amongst PLWHIV in Nigeria, thus facilitating the goal of keeping HIV-associated dementia to a minimum. The lack of variability in the IHDS-MS and DST is unfavourable.

How to predict the outcome of septorhinoplasty? A normative study of ROE and FROI-17 scores

Objective

Normative values of patient-reported outcome instruments are needed to identify good candidates for rhinoplasty. Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) and Functional Rhinoplasty Outcome Inventory-17 (FROI-17) are disease-specific questionnaires that evaluate quality of life in patients undergoing rhinoplasty.

Methods

The reference cohort contained 1,000 participants, selected from a non-probability panel. Normative ROE and FROI-17 scores from this reference cohort were compared with ROE and FROI-17 scores from a patient cohort before (n = 104) and 6 (n = 55) and 12 months (n = 32) after septorhinoplasty.

Results

Mean FROI-17 scores (± SD) were: overall score, 20.8 ± 17; nasal symptoms, 16.8 ± 7; general symptoms, 24.8 ± 22; and self-confidence, 16.4 ± 21. The ROE total score was 73.1 ± 16. Normative values differed significantly from the preoperative ROE and FROI-17 scores of septorhinoplasty patients (p < 0.01). Except for the FROI-17 general score at 12 months postoperatively (p = 0.004), there were no significant differences between normative ROE/FROI-17 and septorhinoplasty scores postoperatively, indicating that they returned to normalcy.

Conclusions

Normative scores for ROE and FROI-17 provide a reference point from which to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from rhinoplasty.