ABSTRACT
Background: Aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is an inflammatory condition that consists of eosinophilic asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, and respiratory reactions to cyclooxygenase-1 inhibitors. Aspirin therapy after aspirin desensitization (ATAD) is the most extensively studied treatment paradigm for AERD. Objective: The objective was to identify which time point of ATAD was most predictive of long-term outcomes as measured by the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients at a single institution who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery, followed by ATAD, and had remained on ATAD for 2 consecutive years. SNOT-22 scores were recorded at predesensitization as well as at the 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-month postdesensitization time points. The patients were separated into two cohorts at each of the data collection time points based on whether their SNOT-22 scores were < 20 (responders) or ≥ 20 (nonresponders). Responder status was compared between each time point and at 24-month postdesensitization. The odds ratios (OR) were then calculated between the two groups at each of the following time points: postsurgery/predesensitization, and 3-, 6-, and 12-month postdesensitization. Results: There were 70 patients who met the inclusion criteria of having 24-month postdesensitization SNOT-22 scores available. Responder status at 6 months after surgery had the most predictive OR 16.5 (95% confidence interval, 3.71-73.44) for long-term outcomes at 24 months. Conclusion: The SNOT-22 scores after 6 months of ATAD showed the greatest predictive value for long-term quality-of-life outcomes and, therefore, poor 6-month SNOT-22 scores could serve as a basis for consideration of alternative therapies.