T-14 Outcomes
Changes in QoL as measured using the T-14 are presented in Figure 1. Over the waiting period between initial consultation and day of surgery, there was no statistically significant difference in median total T-14 scores (35 [IQR 22 - 42] vs 36 [IQR 22 - 42]; n= 63; p > 0.05). Following surgery there was a significant decrease in median total T-14 scores at the 6-week post-operative follow up (33.5 [IQR 22 - 42] vs 2 [IQR 0 - 5]; n = 160; p < 0.001). At 6-month follow up there was a further reduction in median total T-14 score (6-week median of 2 [IQR 0 - 5] vs 6-month median of 0 [IQR 0 - 2]; n = 148; p < 0.001), with T-14 scores at a normal range.(13) Similarly, median T-14 obstructive and infection sub-scores also demonstrated no significant change while they were waiting for elective tonsillectomy (obstructive: initial 16 [IQR 12 – 19] vs day of surgery 16 [IQR 12 – 21]; n = 63; p > 0.05) (infection: initial 19 [IQR 8 – 26] vs day of surgery 17 [IQR 6 – 26]; n = 63; p > 0.05), but significant improvement at 6 weeks (obstructive: day of surgery 16 [IQR 12 – 20] vs 6 weeks 1 [IQR 0 – 4]; n = 160; p < 0.0001) (infection: day of surgery 16 [IQR 8 – 24] vs 6 weeks 0 [IQR 0 – 1]; n = 160; p < 0.0001), which was sustained with further minor improvement at 6 months post-operatively (obstructive: 6 weeks 1 [IQR 0 – 4] vs 6 months 0 [IQR 0 – 0]; n = 148; p < 0.0001) (infection: 6 weeks 0 [IQR 0 – 1] vs 6 months 0 [IQR 0 – 1]; n = 148; p < 0.0001).
A sub-group analysis of children aged between 2 – 4 years, undergoing tonsillectomy for SDB was undertaken (n=28; Figure 2). This sub-group waited a median of 134 (IQR 94 – 205) days for surgery from initial consultation. The median T-14 scores at initial consultation compared to day of surgery showed no significant change (34 [IQR 22 - 43] vs 33 [IQR 22 - 40]; n= 63; p = 0.4224). The median T-14 scores significantly decreased from initial consultation to 6 months post-operatively (34 [IQR 22 - 43] vs 1 [IQR 0 - 3]; n= 28; p <0.0001). A similar response was observed for T-14 obstructive sub-scores (initial 18 [IQR 14-21] vs day of surgery 18.5 [IQR 13.25-22]; p > 0.05) (day of surgery 18.5 [IQR 13.25-22] vs 6 months 1 [IQR 0-2]; p < 0.0001).