COMPARISON OF TOTAL NASAL SYMPTOM SCORE (TNSS) AND NASAL PATENCY BETWEEN LOWLAND AND HIGHLAND POPULATIONS IN KLUNGKUNG AND BANGLI REGENCIES, BALI

Penulis

  • Alexsandro Ignatius Saverio Lao Universitas Udayana image/svg+xml
  • Sari Wulan Dwi Sutanegara
  • Ketut Tadeus Max Nurcahaya Pinatih
  • I Wayan Lolik Lesmana

Kata Kunci:

total nasal symptom score, nasal patency, highland, lowland, Glatzel mirror, rhinitis

Abstrak

Introduction & Objectives: Rhinitis and nasal dysfunction impose a significant global burden, yet studies simultaneously comparing Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) and objective nasal patency between community-based lowland and highland populations remain scarce. This study aimed to compare TNSS and nasal patency between lowland and highland populations in Klungkung and Kintamani, Bali.

Material & Methods: This was an observational analytic cross-sectional study conducted during community health screening events in Kecamatan Dawan, Klungkung (lowland) and Kecamatan Kintamani, Bangli (highland). Subjects aged 18–60 years were recruited by consecutive sampling. TNSS was assessed using the validated Indonesian-version TNSS questionnaire. Nasal patency was objectively measured using the Glatzel mirror technique, with condensation area quantified via ImageJ software. Confounding variables including septal deviation, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, URTI history, smoking, and intranasal medication use were assessed. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-Square or Fisher's Exact test, with significance set at p<0.05.

Results: A total of 72 subjects were enrolled (lowland n=30, highland n=42). Significant between-group differences were identified in septal deviation (p<0.001), allergic rhinitis history (p=0.001), and chronic rhinosinusitis history (p<0.001). The highland group demonstrated a significantly higher median TNSS compared to the lowland group (7 [range 5–9] vs. 3 [range 2–5], p<0.001). Bilateral nasal patency was significantly lower in the highland group across all measurements, including bilateral mean (4.55 cm² vs. 6.10 cm², p<0.001).

Conclusion: Highland populations in Bali exhibit significantly higher nasal symptom burden and lower objective nasal patency compared to lowland populations, suggesting that geographic environmental characteristics meaningfully influence nasal function and symptom profiles.

JOOB 002 Vol 1 No 2

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Diterbitkan

2026-07-28

Terbitan

Vol 1 No 2 (2026): Volume 1 No 2 072026

Bagian

Research Report

Lisensi

Hak Cipta (c) 2026 Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Bali

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