Low levels of miR-143-3p are associated with severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate post-transcriptional gene expression. Accumulating evidence suggests their involvement in regulating various biological and pathological processes, including inflammation. Studies have revealed distinct expression patterns of miRNAs in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with (CRSwNP) and without (CRSsNP) nasal polyps (1). Specifically, miR-155 and miR-21 have been observed to be upregulated in CRSwNP, increasing and attenuating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, respectively (2,3). Conversely, the downregulation of miR-34, miR-449, and members of the miR-200 family has been associated with impaired ciliogenesis and the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, respectively (4,5). Nonetheless, the direct role of miRNAs in CRSwNP is still being investigated.

Prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis without/with nasal polyps according to severity in Spain.

BACKGROUND: The worldwide prevalence range of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is 5-12%; from this, 20 % have nasal polyps. Due to the little epidemiological data about CRS in the Spanish population, this study analyses the prevalence and severity of CRS with (CRSwNP) or without (CRSsNP) nasal polyps, and their connection with other coexisting type 2 inflammatory diseases in Spain. METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective, large-scale, nationwide, epidemiological study based on the electronic medical records from the BIG-PAC® database. Patients diagnosed of CRSsNP and CRSwNP were identified using specific disease codes. The severe form of the disease was defined as patients who received at least a long course of antibiotics in CRSsNP or ≥2 short courses of systemic corticosteroids in CRSwNP in ≤12 months during the last 2 years, and/or had previous sinus surgery. Physician-diagnosed prevalence, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and disease severity were assessed. RESULTS: Out of a cohort of 1,012,257 patients (≥18 years old), 42,863 and 7,550 patients with diagnosed CRSsNP and CRSwNP, respectively, were analysed. The overall prevalence of diagnosed CRS was 5.1%, being 4.3% and 0.8% for CRSsNP and CRSwNP, respectively. Patients with CRSwNP and severe forms of the disease were older and had higher levels of type 2 inflammatory biomarkers than CRSsNP patients and non-severe disease. CONCLUSIONS: Although CRSsNP was more prevalent than CRSwNP, the severe forms of CRS were more frequent in patients with CRSwNP. In addition, CRSwNP patients had a higher incidence of coexisting type 2 inflammatory diseases.

Mepolizumab improves sense of smell in severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: SYNAPSE.

BACKGROUND: Loss of smell is one of the most bothersome and difficult-to-treat symptoms in patients with severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). METHODOLOGY: SYNAPSE was a 52-week Phase III study of 4-weekly mepolizumab (100 mg subcutaneously) plus standard of care in adults with severe bilateral CRSwNP. This post hoc analysis assessed changes from baseline to study end in loss of smell visual analogue scale (VAS) symptom score, in patients stratified by several baseline clinical characteristics. SinoNasal Outcomes Test (SNOT)-22 sense of smell/taste item and University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) scores were also assessed. RESULTS: SYNAPSE enrolled 407 patients (mepolizumab=206; placebo=201) with impaired sense of smell at baseline. Improvements from baseline to study end in loss of smell VAS score were greater with mepolizumab versus placebo (treatment difference: -0.37) and most notable in patients with fewer or more recent prior surgeries (treatment difference: 1 vs 2 vs more than 2 prior surgeries,-1.29 vs -0.23 vs -0.07; =3 years since last surgery, -.89 vs 0.22). Approximately 25% of patients had baseline UPSIT scoresavailable; among those scoring =19 by study end. The SNOT-22 sense of smell/taste item score improved with mepolizumab versus placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Mepolizumab treatment improved patients' perceived sense of smell, as measured by loss of smell VAS score and SNOT-22 sense of smell/taste item score in patients with severe refractory CRSwNP.

EPOS2020/EUFOREA expert opinion on defining disease states and therapeutic goals in CRSwNP.

Severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), a form of diffuse bilateral (usually type 2) CRS, is a debilitating disease with a significant impact on quality of life (QoL). With novel knowledge and treatment options becoming available, there is a growing need to update or revise key definitions to enable communication across different specialties dealing with CRS, and to agree on novel goals of care in CRSwNP. The European Forum for Research and Education in Allergy and Airway diseases (EUFOREA) and EPOS expert members discussed how to measure treatment responses and set new treatment goals for CRSwNP. In this paper a consensus on a list of definitions related to CRSwNP is provided: control, remission, cure, recurrence/exacerbation, treatable traits, remodeling, progression, and disease modification. By providing these definitions, the involved experts hope to improve communication between all stakeholders involved in CRSwNP treatment for use in routine care, basic and clinical research and international guidelines aimed to harmonize and optimize standard of care of patients with CRSwNP in the future.

Rhinitis associated with asthma is distinct from rhinitis alone: The ARIA-MeDALL hypothesis.

Asthma, rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis (AD) are interrelated clinical phenotypes that partly overlap in the human interactome. The concept of "one-airway-one-disease," coined over 20 years ago, is a simplistic approach of the links between upper- and lower-airway allergic diseases. With new data, it is time to reassess the concept. This article reviews (i) the clinical observations that led to Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA), (ii) new insights into polysensitization and multimorbidity, (iii) advances in mHealth for novel phenotype definitions, (iv) confirmation in canonical epidemiologic studies, (v) genomic findings, (vi) treatment approaches, and (vii) novel concepts on the onset of rhinitis and multimorbidity. One recent concept, bringing together upper- and lower-airway allergic diseases with skin, gut, and neuropsychiatric multimorbidities, is the "Epithelial Barrier Hypothesis." This review determined that the "one-airway-one-disease" concept does not always hold true and that several phenotypes of disease can be defined. These phenotypes include an extreme "allergic" (asthma) phenotype combining asthma, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis. Rhinitis alone and rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity represent two distinct diseases with the following differences: (i) genomic and transcriptomic background (Toll-Like Receptors and IL-17 for rhinitis alone as a local disease; IL-33 and IL-5 for allergic and non-allergic multimorbidity as a systemic disease), (ii) allergen sensitization patterns (mono- or pauci-sensitization versus polysensitization), (iii) severity of symptoms, and (iv) treatment response. In conclusion, rhinitis alone (local disease) and rhinitis with asthma multimorbidity (systemic disease) should be considered as two distinct diseases, possibly modulated by the microbiome, and may be a model for understanding the epidemics of chronic and autoimmune diseases.

Prevalence of Atopic Dermatitis in the adult population of Catalonia (Spain): a retrospective, large-scale population-based study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Studies on the prevalence of Atopic Dermatitis (AD) for the adult cohort in general-based populations are scarce worldwide. We performed a retrospective population-based observational cohort study of 537,098 adult patients diagnosed with AD in Catalonia (Spain), a larger population than in previous studies. To study the prevalence of AD generally by age, gender, disease severity, multi-morbidities, and serum total Immunoglobin E (tIgE) and undergo appropriate medical treatment (AMT) for the Catalan population. METHODS: Adult individuals (≥18 years old) diagnosed with AD by medical records at different health care levels (primary, hospital, emergency) from the Catalan Health System (CHS) were included. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate socio-demographic characteristics, prevalence, multi-morbidities, serum tIgE and AMT. RESULTS: The overall diagnosed AD prevalence in the adult Catalan population was 8.7%, being higher for the non-severe (8.5%) than for the severe (0.2%) populations and females (10.1%) than males (7.3%). Topical corticosteroids were the most prescribed drug (66.5%), and the use of all prescribed treatments was higher in severe AD patients, especially systemic corticosteroids (63.8%) and immunosuppressant agents (60.7%). More than half (52.2%) of severe AD patients reported serum tIgE ≥ 100 KU/L, and higher values were observed for those with multi-morbidities. Acute bronchitis (13.7%), allergic rhinitis (12.1%), and asthma (8.6%) were the most frequent comorbid respiratory diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides new and robust evidence of AD´s prevalence and related characteristics in adults using a large-scale population-based study and a more significant cohort of individuals.

Prevalence of asthma in Catalonia (Spain): a retrospective, large-scale population-based study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Asthma epidemiology reports an estimated global prevalence of about 4.3-8.6% in adults, with last differences among geographical regions. This study analyses a more significant population of asthma patients (473,737 individuals).To study the prevalence of medical diagnosis of asthma, overall and by age, gender, and disease severity, as well as comorbidities and type 2 biomarkers, and undergo medical treatments of a retrospective population-based asthma cohort from Catalonia (Spain). METHODS: Individuals with a diagnosis of asthma established by medical records at different healthcare levels (primary, hospital, and emergency) from the Catalan Health System (CHS) were included. Socio-demographic characteristics, prevalence, overall and by age and gender, disease severity, comorbidities, and biomarkers of type-2 inflammation were evaluated, together with appropriate medical treatment. RESULTS: The overall diagnosed asthma prevalence in the population of Catalonia was 6.3%, where patients mainly had mild asthma (5.3%) and were significantly higher in females (6.8%) than males (5.7%). By age groups, asthma was more prevalent in boys and young men adults; however, being more prevalent in females above the age of 30y. The prevalence of severe asthma was 0.4%, 42.6% had uncontrolled asthma, and a high proportion (84.2%) were under systemic corticosteroid prescription. As expected, SABAs were the most prescribed drug (62.6%), followed by systemic corticosteroids (43.3%). More than half (53.8%) of patients showed type 2 inflammation. CONCLUSION: Asthma prevalence in Catalonia is similar to other areas studied in Spain, with a high prevalence in women and of T2 asthma.

Weight Loss and Vitamin D Improve Hyporesponsiveness to Corticosteroids in Obese Asthma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Obesity negatively impacts on the response of asthma patients to inhaled corticosteroids. The mechanisms underlying this impact are unknown. Objective: To demonstrate that the poor response to inhaled corticosteroids in obese asthma patients is associated with impaired anti-inflammatory activity of corticosteroids and vitamin D deficiency, both of which are improved by weight loss. METHODS: The study population comprised 23 obese asthma patients (OA) (18 females; median (IQR) age 56 [51-59] years), 14 nonobese asthma patients (NOA) (11 females; 53 [43-60] years), 15 obese patients (OP) (13 females; 47 [45-60] years), and 19 healthy controls (HC) (14 females; 43 [34-56] years). Ten OA and 11 OP were evaluated at baseline (V1) and 6 months after bariatric surgery (V2). Corticosteroid response was measured using dexamethasone-induced inhibition of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation. Lung function and serum levels of leptin, adiponectin, and vitamin D were measured at V1 and V2. RESULTS: We found a reduced response to dexamethasone in PBMCs of OP and OA with respect to NOA and HC; this inversely correlated with the adiponectin/leptin ratio and vitamin D levels. Bariatric surgery improved corticosteroid responses in OP and OA and normalized the adiponectin/leptin ratio and vitamin D levels. Exposure of PBMCs to vitamin D potentiated the antiproliferative effects of corticosteroids. Dexamethasone and vitamin D induced similar MKP1 expression in OP and OA. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of weight loss to improve symptoms and lung function in OA may be due, at least in part, to the recovered anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids. Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to corticosteroid hyporesponsiveness in OA.

Validation of Visual Analogue Scale for loss of smell as a quick test in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Diagnostic criteria of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) include, among others, olfactory dysfunction (OD). We hypothesize that patients suffering with CRSwNP are good at self-assessing their sense of smell through visual analogue scale (VAS) compared to smell tests. METHODS: A controlled cross-sectional study was planned. Adults diagnosed with severe CRSwNP waiting for endoscopic sinus surgery were included. A cohort of healthy controls was also studied. All participants performed Barcelona smell test (BAST-24), sinonasal outcomes test 22 (SNOT-22), and VAS for loss of smell. CRSwNP underwent blood test (eosinophils count, total serum IgE), CT scan (Lund-Mackay Score), and nasal endoscopy. RESULTS: 138 severe CRSwNP and 40 controls subjects were included. The BAST-24 identification score was strongly correlated with the VAS score in the CRSwNP group (rho=-0.79, p<0.001) but not in the control group (rho=-0.14; p=0.39), this difference between groups being statistically significant (p<0.001). A significant correlation of SNOT-22 item 21 (loss of smell) was also found with BAST-24 identification (rho=-0.65, p<0.001), this difference being statistically significant (Z=-2.43; p=0.015). In the ROC curve, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.85 with 72.5% sensitivity and 93.1% specificity. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a potential role of the VAS score for the screening of OD in severe CRSwNP in daily clinical practice.

Spanish Consensus on the Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps (POLIposis NAsal/POLINA 2.0).

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a highly prevalent and burdensome disease for both individuals and health systems. Its management involves many specialties, including otorhinolaryngology, allergology, pulmonology, primary care, pharmacy, and pediatrics. A multidisciplinary approach and the participation of the patient in decision-making are essential, both for diagnosis and for therapy. The authors of the consensus aim to translate current knowledge into an easy-to-read practical guide and emphasize those aspects requiring further discussion or with unmet needs owing to the lack of appropriate scientific evidence. An iterative approach for the development of an evidence-based systematic review with recommendations was followed using a standard quality assessment approach (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network [SIGN] and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE]). The guideline was critically evaluated using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) and Recommendation Excellence (AGREE REX) instruments. Consequently, POLINA has been considered a high-quality guideline by an independent agency. The POLINA consensus provides new definitions of control, therapeutic management (including surgery and evaluation of severity), indications for use of biologics, and response. Finally, this guideline focuses on unmet research needs in CRSwNP.

Exacerbations Among Patients With Asthma Are Largely Dependent on the Presence of Multimorbidity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Comorbidities can influence asthma control and promote asthma exacerbations (AEs). However, the impact of multimorbidity in AEs, assessed based on long-term follow-up of patients with asthma of different degrees of severity, has received little attention in real-life conditions. To describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics and predictors of AEs in patients who had presented at least 1 AE in the previous year in the MEchanism of Genesis and Evolution of Asthma (MEGA) cohort. METHODS: The work-up included a detailed clinical examination, pulmonary function testing, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), blood counts, induced sputum, skin prick-tests, asthma questionnaires, and assessment of multimorbidity. The number of moderate-severe AEs in the preceding year was registered for each patient. RESULTS: The study population comprised 486 patients with asthma (23.7% mild, 35% moderate, 41.3% severe). Disease remained uncontrolled in 41.9%, and 47.3% presented ≥1 moderate-severe AE, with a mean (SD) annual exacerbation rate of 0.47 (0.91) vs 2.11 (2.82) in mild and severe asthma, respectively. Comorbidity was detected in 56.4% (66.6% among those with severe asthma). Bronchiectasis, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, atopy, psychiatric illnesses, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension were significantly associated with AEs. No associations were found for FeNO, blood eosinophils, or total serum IgE. Sputum eosinophilia and a high-T2 inflammatory pattern were significantly associated with AEs. Multivariable regression analysis showed a significant association with asthma severity, uncontrolled disease, and low prebronchodilator FEV1/FVC. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed a high frequency of AE in the MEGA cohort. This was strongly associated with multimorbidity, asthma severity, poor asthma control, airflow obstruction, higher sputum eosinophils, and a very high-T2 inflammatory pattern.

Improvement in Olfaction in Patients With CRSwNP and Severe Asthma Taking Anti-IgE and Anti-IL-5 Biologics: A Real-Life Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), which is characterized by partial loss of smell (hyposmia) or total loss of smell (anosmia), is commonly associated with asthma and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-exacerbated respiratory disease (N-ERD). CRSwNP worsens disease severity and quality of life. The objective of this real-world study was to determine whether biological treatments prescribed for severe asthma can improve olfaction in patients with CRSwNP. A further objective was to compare the improvement in in olfaction in N-ERD and non-N-ERD subgroups. METHODS: We performed a multicenter, noninterventional, retrospective, observational study of 206 patients with severe asthma and CRSwNP undergoing biological treatment (omalizumab, mepolizumab, benralizumab, or reslizumab). RESULTS: Olfaction improved after treatment with all 4 monoclonal antibodies (omalizumab [35.8%], mepolizumab [35.4%], reslizumab [35.7%], and benralizumab [39.1%]), with no differences between the groups. Olfaction was more likely to improve in patients with atopy, more frequent use of short-course systemic corticosteroids, and larger polyp size. The proportion of patients whose olfaction improved was similar between the N-ERD (37%) and non-N-ERD (35.7%) groups. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first real-world study to compare improvement in olfaction among patients undergoing long-term treatment with omalizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab, or benralizumab for severe asthma and associated CRSwNP. Approximately 4 out of 10 patients reported a subjective improvement in olfaction (with nonsignificant differences between biologic drugs). No differences were found for improved olfaction between the N-ERD and non-N-ERD groups.

Septoplasty and/or inferior turbinoplasty produce significant improvements of the sense of smell.

BACKGROUND: Patients with septal deviation and/or turbinal hypertrophy may experience olfactory disfunction (OD). The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of septoplasty and/or turbinoplasty on both lateralized and bilateral olfactory function. METHODOLOGY: Prospective study of 47 patients with nasal obstruction secondary to septal deviation and/or turbinal hypertrophy and 20 healthy controls. The Barcelona Olfactory test (BOT-8), a new supraliminal orthonasal subjective olfactometry, was applied 3 times in a row (in each nostril separately and in both simultaneously). The 8 items were applied randomly to minimize the possible risk of learning. The test has not established the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Anterior rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry were performed. All participants self-assessed smell loss and nasal obstruction using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and completed questionnaires for nasal obstruction (Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation, NOSE) and for quality of life (QoL), using disease-specific (SinoNasal Outcome Test-22, SNOT-22) and generic (Short Form-12 Health Survey, SF-12) questionnaires. Nasal measurements and questionnaires were performed preoperatively and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Before surgery, patients reported worse VAS on smell loss and on nasal obstruction compared to controls. Patients scored lower BOT-8 than controls. Lateralized preoperative olfactory function showed that all BOT-8 characteristics were lower at the narrow side than the wider one. Smell function and QoL improved significantly one year after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Nasal septal deviation and turbinal hypertrophy lead to an olfactory impairment on the obstructed nostril. Nasal surgery provides a positive outcome on olfactory function, as well as on subjective and objective outcomes.

Developing a core outcome set for clinical trials in olfactory disorders: a COMET initiative.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Evaluating the effectiveness of the management of Olfactory Dysfunction (OD) has been limited by a paucity of high-quality randomised and/or controlled trials. A major barrier is heterogeneity of outcomes in such studies. Core outcome sets (COS) - standardized sets of outcomes that should be measured/reported as determined by consensus-would help overcome this problem and facilitate future meta-analyses and/or systematic reviews (SRs). We set out to develop a COS for interventions for patients with OD. METHODS: A long-list of potential outcomes was identified by a steering group utilising a literature review, thematic analysis of a wide range of stakeholders' views and systematic analysis of currently available Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). A subsequent e-Delphi process allowed patients and healthcare practitioners to individually rate the outcomes in terms of importance on a 9-point Likert scale. RESULTS: After 2 rounds of the iterative eDelphi process, the initial outcomes were distilled down to a final COS including subjective questions (visual analogue scores, quantitative and qualitative), quality of life measures, psychophysical testing of smell, baseline psychophysical testing of taste, and presence of side effects along with the investigational medicine/device and patient's symptom log. CONCLUSIONS: Inclusion of these core outcomes in future trials will increase the value of research on clinical interventions for OD. We include recommendations regarding the outcomes that should be measured, although future work will be required to further develop and revalidate existing outcome measures.

EPOS/EUFOREA update on indication and evaluation of Biologics in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps 2023.

Severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a debilitating disease with a significant impact on the quality of life (QoL). It is typically characterized by a type 2 inflammatory reaction and by comorbidities such as asthma, allergies and NSAID-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (N-ERD). Here, the European Forum for Research and Education in Allergy and Airway diseases discusses practical guidelines for patients on biologic treatment. Criteria for the selection of patients who would benefit from biologics were updated. Guidelines are proposed concerning the monitoring of the drug effects that provide recognition of responders to the therapy and, subsequently, the decision about continuation, switching or discontinuation of a biologic. Furthermore, gaps in the current knowledge and unmet needs were discussed.

Evaluating treatment response to mepolizumab in patients with severe CRSwNP.

BACKGROUND: The SYNAPSE study (NCT03085797) demonstrated that mepolizumab decreased nasal polyp (NP) size and nasal obstruction in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with NP (CRSwNP). METHODS: SYNAPSE, a randomized, double-blind study, included patients with recurrent, refractory, severe CRSwNP, eligible for repeated surgery despite receiving standard of care (SoC). Patients received 4-weekly mepolizumab 100 mg or placebo subcutaneously plus SoC for 52 weeks. This post hoc analysis further characterized treatment responses and association with patient characteristics. The proportion of patients meeting any and each of five response criteria indicating improvement in disease-specific quality of life, NP size, nasal obstruction, loss of smell, and overall symptoms at Weeks 24 and 52, were assessed in subgroups: 1) no surgery; 2) neither surgery nor systemic corticosteroids (SCS). RESULTS: Of 407 patients in the intention-to-treat population, 381 and 343 patients had no sinus surgery by Weeks 24 and 52, respectively. More mepolizumab- versus placebo-treated patients without surgery by Weeks 24 and 52 met each response criteria. Of the mepolizumab-treated patients without surgery by Week 24, 109 (55%) responded across >=3 criteria, increasing to 126 (67%) by Week 52. Similar response trends were seen for patients with neither surgery nor SCS by Weeks 24 and 52. At either timepoint, there were no major differences in baseline characteristics between mepolizumab-treated full- (5/5 categories) and non-responders (0/5 categories). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients who completed SYNAPSE required neither surgery nor SCS use and in addition achieved a progressive and sustained clinical response to mepolizumab underscoring the therapeutic benefits of mepolizumab in severe CRSwNP.

Consensus criteria for chronic rhinosinusitis disease control: an international Delphi Study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) disease control is a global metric of disease status for CRS. While there is broad acceptance that it is an important treatment goal, there has been inconsistency in the criteria used to define CRS control. The objective of this study was to identify and develop consensus around essential criteria for assessment of CRS disease control. METHODS: Modified Delphi methodology consisting of three rounds to review a list of 24 possible CRS control criteria developed by a 12-person steering committee. The core authorship of the multidisciplinary EPOS 2020 guidelines was invited to participate. RESULTS: Thirty-two individuals accepted the invitation to participate and there was no dropout of participants throughout the entire study (3 rounds). Consensus essential criteria for assessment of CRS control were: overall symptom severity, need for CRS-related systemic corticosteroids in the prior 6 months, severity of nasal obstruction, and patient-reported CRS control. Near-consensus items were: nasal endoscopy findings, severity of smell loss, overall quality of life, impairment of normal activities and severity of nasal discharge. Participants’ comments provided insights into caveats of, and disagreements related to, near-consensus items. CONCLUSIONS: Overall symptom severity, use of CRS-related systemic corticosteroids, severity of nasal obstruction, and patient-reported CRS control are widely agreed upon essential criteria for assessment of CRS disease control. Consideration of near-consensus items to assess CRS control should be implemented with their intrinsic caveats in mind. These identified consensus CRS control criteria, together with evidence-based support, will provide a foundation upon which CRS control criteria with wide-spread acceptance can be developed.

The EUFOREA pocket guide for chronic rhinosinusitis.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is known to affect around 5 % of the total population, with major impact on the quality of life of those severely affected (1). Despite a substantial burden on individuals, society and health economies, CRS often remains underdiagnosed, under-estimated and under-treated (2). International guidelines like the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EPOS) (3) and the International Consensus statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis 2021 (ICAR) (4) offer physicians insight into the recommended treatment options for CRS, with an overview of effective strategies and guidance of diagnosis and care throughout the disease journey of CRS.

Position paper on olfactory dysfunction: 2023

BACKGROUND: Since publication of the original Position Paper on Olfactory Dysfunction in 2017 (PPOD-17), the personal and societal burden of olfactory disorders has come sharply into focus through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinicians, scientists and the public are now more aware of the importance of olfaction, and the impact of its dysfunction on quality of life, nutrition, social relationships and mental health. Accordingly, new basic, translational and clinical research has resulted in significant progress since the PPOD-17. In this updated document, we present and discuss currently available evidence for the diagnosis and management of olfactory dysfunction. Major updates to the current version include, amongst others: new recommendations on olfactory related terminology; new imaging recommendations; new sections on qualitative OD and COVID-19 OD; updated management section. Recommendations were agreed by all co-authors using a modified Delphi process. CONCLUSIONS: We have provided an overview of current evidence and expert-agreed recommendations for the definition, investigation, and management of OD. As for our original Position Paper, we hope that this updated document will encourage clinicians and researchers to adopt a common language, and in so doing, increase the methodological quality, consistency, and generalisability of work in this field.

The 8-Odorant Barcelona Olfactory Test (BOT-8): Validation of a New Test in the Spanish Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Most smell tests are difficult to implement in daily clinical practice owing to their long duration. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a short, easy-to-perform, and reusable smell test to be implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The study population comprised 120 healthy adults and 195 patients with self-reported olfactory dysfunction (OD). The 8-Odorant Barcelona Olfactory Test (BOT-8) was used for detection, memory/recognition, and forced-choice identification. In addition, a rose threshold test was performed, and a visual analog scale was applied. The Smell Diskettes Olfaction Test (SDOT) was used for correlation in healthy volunteers, and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) was used for patients with OD to establish cut-offs for anosmia and hyposmia. In order to take account of the COVID-19 pandemic, disposable cotton swabs with odorants were compared with the original test. RESULTS: In healthy persons, the mean (SD) BOT-8 score was 100% for detection, 94.5% (1.07) for memory/recognition, and 89.6% (0.86) for identification. In patients with OD, the equivalent values were 86% (32.8), 73.2% (37.9), and 77.1% (34.2), respectively. BOT-8 demonstrated good test-retest reliability, with agreement of 96.7% and a quadratic k of 0.84 (P<.001). A strong correlation was observed between BOT-8 and SDOT (r=0.67, P<.001) and UPSIT (r=0.86, P<.001). Agreement was excellent for disposable cotton swabs, with a k of 0.79 compared with the original test. The cut-off point for anosmia was ≤3 (area under the curve, 0.83; sensitivity, 0.673; specificity, 0.993). CONCLUSION: BOT-8 offers an efficient and fast method for assessment of smell threshold, detection, memory, and identification in daily clinical practice. Disposable cotton swabs with odorants proved to be useful and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.