Preoperative laboratory measurements as a predictor for nasal steroid irrigations after sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

PURPOSE: To assess whether preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), immunoglobulin E (IgE), and blood eosinophil percentage (EOS) can predict need for steroid irrigations after FESS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult patients at BIDMC from inception until September 8, 2023 with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps who underwent FESS and had preoperative CRP (n = 129), ESR (n = 79), IgE (n = 107), or EOS (n = 125) were included. Labs were divided into normal (CRP: 0-5.0 mg/L; ESR: 0-15 mm/h; IgE: 150-300Ul/mL; EOS: 1-7 %) and high groups (CRP: >5.0 mg/L; ESR: >15 mm/h; IgE: >300Ul/mL; EOS: >7 %). The primary outcome was need for intranasal steroid irrigations after FESS (≤4 weeks, 4-12 weeks, 12-26 weeks, 26-52 weeks, 1-3 years, 3-5 years, and > 5 years). Receiver operating characteristic curves were created to determine thresholds for predicting postoperative steroid irrigations. RESULTS: Elevated IgE required intranasal steroid irrigation at 1-3 years (normal 34 %, high 62 %, p = 0.02), 3-5 years (normal 24 %, high 48 %, p = 0.04), and > 5 years (normal 19 %, high 43 %, p = 0.02). Elevated EOS required intranasal steroid irrigation at 26-52 weeks (normal 7 %, high 25 %, p = 0.009) and > 5 years (normal 19 %, high 46 %, p = 0.005). The area under the curve for IgE at 1-3 years was 0.696 (95 % CI: 0.597-0.795) with cutoff at 144-148 Ul/mL. CRP and ESR were not predictive of postoperative intranasal steroid treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated IgE and EOS (but not CRP or ESR) may predict need for intranasal steroid treatment after FESS.

Determinants of physician assessment of chronic rhinosinusitis disease control using EPOS 2020 criteria and the importance of incorporating patient perspectives of disease control.

BACKGROUND: We identify chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) manifestations associated with how rhinologists assess CRS control, with a focus on patient perspectives (patient-reported CRS control). METHODS: Fifteen rhinologists were provided with real-world data from 200 CRS patients. Participating rhinologists first classified patients' CRS control as "controlled," "partly controlled," and "uncontrolled" using seven CRS manifestations reflecting European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EPOS) CRS control criteria (nasal obstruction, drainage, impaired smell, facial pain/pressure, sleep disturbance, use of systemic antibiotics/corticosteroids in past 6 months, and nasal endoscopy findings) and patient-reported CRS control. They then classified patients' CRS control without knowledge of patient-reported CRS control. Interrater reliability and agreement of rhinologist-assessed CRS control with patient-reported CRS control and EPOS guidelines were determined. RESULTS: CRS control classification with and without knowledge of patient-reported CRS control was highly consistent across rhinologists (κw  = 0.758). Rhinologist-assessed CRS control agreed with patient-reported CRS control significantly better when rhinologists had knowledge of patient-reported CRS control (κw  = 0.736 vs. κw  = 0.554, p < 0.001). Patient-reported CRS control, nasal obstruction, drainage, and endoscopy findings were most strongly associated with rhinologists' assessment of CRS control. Rhinologists' CRS control assessments weakly agreed with EPOS CRS control guidelines with (κw  = 0.529) and without (κw  = 0.538) patient-reported CRS control. Rhinologists classified CRS as more controlled than EPOS guidelines in almost 50% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study directly demonstrates the importance of patient-reported CRS control as a dominant influence on rhinologists' CRS control assessment. Knowledge of patient-reported CRS control may better align rhinologists' CRS control assessments and treatment decisions with patients' perspectives.

Chronic Rhinosinusitis Outcomes of Patients With Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease Treated With Budesonide Irrigations: A Case Series.

BACKGROUND: Pathophysiology-targeting treatments exist for aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) through aspirin desensitization and biologics, such as dupilumab. With increasing attention paid to these treatments, which may be associated with significant side effects and/or cost, there is little description of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) response to treatment with intranasal corticosteroids and saline irrigations in AERD. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of intranasal budesonide irrigations for the treatment of CRSwNP in AERD. METHODS: This is an observational study of 14 AERD patients presenting to a rhinology clinic for CRS who were treated with twice daily high volume, low pressure irrigations with 240 mL of saline to which a 0.5 mg/2 mL respule of budesonide was added. All participants completed a 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) at enrollment and at follow up 1 to 6 months later. Polyp scores were also calculated at each time point. RESULTS: SNOT-22 scores ranged from 26 to 98 (median: 40.5) at enrollment and 3 to 85 (median: 38.5) at follow-up. Polyp scores ranged from 2 to 6 (median: 4) at enrollment at 0 to 6 (median: 2) at follow-up. Over the treatment period, change in SNOT-22 score ranged from -38 to 16 (median: -18) and change in polyp score ranged from -2 to 0 (median: -0.5). Approximately 57% of participants experienced at least 1 minimal clinically important difference in SNOT-22 score and 21% of participants had a SNOT-22 score <20 at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Medical management with intranasal corticosteroids and saline irrigations alone leads to significant improvement in sinonasal symptomatology in a subset of AERD.

Emotional and Personality Traits are Determinants of Activity Avoidance in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), like other sinonasal diseases, may be associated with avoidance of daily activities. Our goal was to identify characteristics associated with avoidance of activities due to CRS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 194 CRS patients were recruited. CRS symptom burden was assessed with the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). SNOT-22 nasal, sleep, ear/facial discomfort and emotional/psychological subdomain scores were calculated. Depressed mood was assessed using the two-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2). Personality traits including conscientiousness, neuroticism, agreeableness, openness, and extraversion were assessed using the Big Five Inventory-10 (BFI-10) questionnaire. As the primary outcome, participants rated how often in the prior week that they had avoided any activities in day-to-day life due to their nasal or sinus symptoms on a scale of "never," "rarely," "sometimes," "often," or "extremely often." Ordinal regression models, with bootstrap validation, were used to identify associations between activity avoidance and participants' characteristics. RESULTS: On multivariable analysis, SNOT-22 score (odds ratio [OR] = 1.03, 95% CI, 1.01-1.04, P = .026), and conscientiousness personality trait (OR = 1.38, 95% CI, 1.05-1.81, P = .019) were positively associated with activity avoidance while age (OR = 0.98, 95% CI, 0.96-0.99, P = .049) was negatively associated with activity avoidance. Of CRS symptom burden/SNOT-22 subdomains, only the emotional/psychological subdomain score (OR = 1.28, 95% CI, 1.12-1.46, P < .001) was associated with activity avoidance. CONCLUSION: Younger age and the conscientiousness personality trait were associated with activity avoidance in CRS patients. Of CRS-associated symptomatology, sadness and embarrassment were associated with activity avoidance. Emotional traits and personality most strongly predict avoidance of activities in CRS patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2c. Laryngoscope, 131:707-712, 2021.

Chronic rhinosinusitis disease burden is associated with asthma-related emergency department usage.

PURPOSE: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) disease burden is associated with pulmonary status in asthmatic CRS patients. Asthma-related emergency department (ED) usage is a predictor of asthma-related mortality. We sought to determine whether measures of CRS disease burden are associated with asthma-related ED usage. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 263 asthmatic CRS patients for this cross-sectional study. CRS burden was measured using the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), and patient-reported CRS-related antibiotic usage and CRS-related oral corticosteroids usage over the preceding year. Asthma-related ED visits over the prior year were also assessed. RESULTS: Of all participants, 18.6% had at least 1 asthma-related ED visit (mean 0.3 ED visits for the whole cohort). Asthma-related ED usage was associated with SNOT-22 score [adjusted rate ratio (RR) = 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03, p = 0.040] and CRS-related oral corticosteroids usage in the past year (RR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.26-1.83, p < 0.001). From the SNOT-22 score, asthma-related ED usage was only associated with the nasal subdomain score (RR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.03-1.13, p = 0.001). These measures of CRS disease burden could be used with good sensitivity and specificity to detect patients with asthma-related ED usage in the past year, the majority of whom were undertreated for their asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Measures of CRS disease burden are associated with and can be used to detect, patients having asthma-related ED usage. These results further solidify the connection between CRS and asthma disease courses, and also present an opportunity to use CRS disease burden as a tool for identifying-and implementing greater treatment of-patients at highest risk for asthma-related mortality.

Unbiased Measure of General Quality of Life in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Reveals Disease Modifiers.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is associated with a significant decrease in general health-related quality of life (QOL). The EuroQol 5-dimensional questionnaire measures general health-related quality of life through a health utility value (EQ-5D HUV)-based on five domains reflecting mobility, self-care, activities of daily life, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression-and an unbiased visual analog scale (EQ-5D VAS). We sought to identify characteristics of CRS patients with a high EQ-5D HUV but low EQ-5D VAS score. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study of 300 CRS patients with EQ-5D HUV equal to 1.0 (reflecting perfect health). All patients completed a 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22)-from which nasal, sleep, ear/facial discomfort, and emotional subdomain scores were calculated, as well as the EQ-5D. Low EQ-5D VAS was defined as a score less than 80. RESULTS: On multivariate analysis, low EQ-5D VAS was associated with only the SNOT-22 sleep subdomain score (odds ratio [OR] = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.02-1.12, P = .003). Comorbid asthma was also associated with lower EQ-5D VAS (OR = 2.16, 95%CI: 1.02-4.59, P = .045). In contrast, polyps were negatively associated with having a lower EQ-5D VAS (OR = 0.34, 95%CI: 0.17-0.69, P = .003). CONCLUSION: There are patients with perfect general health-related QOL according to a health utility value-based methodology (like the EQ-5D HUV) who report low general health-related QOL on an unbiased measure like the EQ-5D VAS. In CRS patients with perfect EQ-5D HUV, poor sleep and asthma were associated with low QOL on the EQ-5D VAS, while polyps were negatively associated with low QOL. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 131:1206-1211, 2021.

Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients With and Without Polyps Experience Different Symptom Perception and Quality of Life Burdens.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine if chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) differentially perceived CRS symptom burden compared to patients without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and to what extent CRS symptom severity was associated with quality of life (QOL) and patient-reported symptom control in the 2 groups. METHODS: A total of 600 patients (266 CRSwNP and 334 CRSsNP) presenting with CRS were recruited. CRS symptom burden was assessed with the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). SNOT-22 nasal, sleep, ear/facial discomfort, and emotional subdomain scores were calculated. General health-related QOL was assessed with the visual analog scale of the 5-dimensional EuroQol questionnaire (EQ-5D VAS). Patients rated their CRS symptom control on a 5-point scale. RESULTS: SNOT-22 scores did not differ between CRSwNP (mean: 35.6) and CRSsNP (mean: 36.3). There were no differences in nasal, sleep, and emotional subdomains of the SNOT-22. CRSsNP had higher (P = .003) ear/facial subdomain scores than CRSwNP, while CRSwNP reported greater hyposmia (P < .001). EQ-5D VAS was significantly lower (P = .011) in CRSsNP (mean: 68.9) compared to CRSwNP (mean: 73.2). However, CRSwNP patients reported significantly less symptom control, compared to CRSsNP, in association with nasal and emotional symptoms. CONCLUSION: CRSwNP and CRSsNP have differences in symptom profile, effect on health-related QOL, and patient-perceived symptom control. CRSsNP experience significantly greater burden of ear/facial discomfort, while CRSwNP report greater hyposmia. Although CRSsNP reports lower general health-related QOL overall, CRSwNP patients had lower levels of CRS symptom control for every incremental increase in symptom burden suggesting greater sensitivity/intolerance to CRS symptoms.

Characterising the potential for recall bias in anchor-based MCID calculation of patient-reported outcome measures for chronic rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: Anchor-based methods to calculate the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) may suffer from recall bias. This has never been investigated for otolaryngic PROMs. We sought to identify evidence of recall bias in calculation of MCIDs of PROMs for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of data from two previous studies calculating the MCID of the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and 5-dimensonal EuroQol questionnaire (EQ-5D) in CRS patients. SETTING: Tertiary rhinology clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Adults with CRS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SNOT-22 score, and EQ-5D visual analog scale scores (EQ-5D VAS) and health utility values (EQ-5D HUV) before and after medical treatment for CRS. After treatment, participants were asked to rate the change in sinonasal symptoms and general health (the anchor question) as "Much worse," "A little worse," "About the same," "A little better" or "Much better." Participants' responses to the anchor question were checked for association with post-treatment and pre-treatment scores using ordinal regression. RESULTS: On univariate association, post-treatment SNOT-22 and EQ-5D scores were associated with respective participants' anchor question responses (P < .001 in all cases). Only pre-treatment SNOT-22 score was associated with anchor question responses (P = .017) on univariate association, in contrast to pre-treatment EQ-5D scores. Pre-treatment EQ-5D scores only associated with anchor question responses when controlling for post-treatment scores. CONCLUSION: The anchor-based MCIDs of the SNOT-22, which reflects disease-specific QOL, and the EQ-5D, which reflects general health-related QOL, appear to be largely free of recall bias.

Intranasal corticosteroids and saline: Usage and adherence in chronic rhinosinusitis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Intranasal saline irrigations and intranasal corticosteroids are supported by level-1 evidence for medical management of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). We sought to study adherence with these medications. METHODS: Prospective study of 174 patients with CRS. Patients reported their usage of intranasal saline irrigation and intranasal corticosteroid over the preceding 3 months, at presentation, and a subsequent follow-up visit 3 to 12 months later. Adherence was defined as reported medication usage for ≥6 days per week. RESULTS: At the time of presentation, 44.3% of patients were using an intranasal corticosteroid spray or irrigation ≥6 days/week, whereas only 24.1% were using saline irrigation ≥6 days per week. At follow-up, 60.3% of patients were using either an intranasal corticosteroid spray or irrigation ≥6 days per week, whereas 35.6% were using saline irrigation ≥6 days per week. Adherence with intranasal corticosteroids was associated with comorbid asthma (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.68, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10-6.50, P = 0.029), allergy (OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.05-4.71, P = 0.037), and change in 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test score (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.96-0.99, P = 0.027). Use of intranasal corticosteroid sprays versus irrigations (OR = 2.56, 95% CI: 0.84-7.83, P = 0.099) was suggestive of association with improved adherence. Adherence with intranasal saline irrigation was associated with age (OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05, P = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Usage and adherence with intranasal steroids and saline may be low in CRS patients even with management in a tertiary level, subspecialty rhinology clinic. Adherence with medications represents a major opportunity for improving patient care and outcomes, specifically by targeting patients with lower disease burden and improving convenience of medications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2C Laryngoscope, 130:852-856, 2020.

Appropriate medical management of chronic rhinosinusitis reduces use of antibiotics and oral corticosteroids.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Antibiotics and oral corticosteroids are used in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic rhinosinusitis (AECRS) and reflect poor disease control. We sought to characterize utilization of these systemic medications after appropriate medical management of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study. METHODS: One hundred fifty patients undergoing medical management for CRS were studied. Data were collected at enrollment and follow-up 3 to 12 months later. All patients were asked to report the number of CRS-related antibiotics and oral corticosteroids used in the last 3 months. CRS symptom burden was measured using the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). Associations were sought between CRS-related antibiotics and oral corticosteroids use at follow-up compared to enrollment. RESULTS: From enrollment to follow-up, the mean number of CRS-related antibiotics courses used decreased by 0.2 courses (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.1-0.4, P = .012), and the mean number of CRS-related oral corticosteroid courses used also decreased by 0.2 courses (95% CI: 0.1-0.3, P = .029). The number of CRS-related antibiotics used at follow-up was associated with CRS-related antibiotic use at enrollment (adjusted rate ratio [RR] = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.17-2.13, P = .003). The number of CRS-related oral corticosteroids used at follow-up was associated with reported CRS-related oral corticosteroid use at enrollment (adjusted RR = 3.20, 95% CI: 1.69-6.07, P < .001). SNOT-22 results at enrollment were also not predictive of future systemic medication use. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate medical management of CRS is associated with decreased use of oral antibiotics and corticosteroids. Previous utilization of antibiotics and oral corticosteroids for CRS is associated with future use of these medications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2c Laryngoscope, 2019.

Predictors of efficacy for combination oral and topical corticosteroids to treat patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

BACKGROUND: A short-course oral corticosteroid taper and topical intranasal corticosteroids may be used to maximize the success of medical management for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). In this study, we sought to identify characteristics that would be predictive of efficacy for this combination regimen. METHODS: Sixty-four patients with CRS, bilateral polyps, a polyp score of at least 3, and a 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) score ≥20 were prospectively enrolled and uniformly treated with a 15-day prednisone taper and twice daily dilute budesonide irrigations. Participants were assessed at enrollment and at follow up, 2 to 5 months later. Clinical and demographic characteristics were assessed at enrollment. At both time points, CRS symptoms were assessed with SNOT-22, and polyp score (range, 0 to 6) was assessed endoscopically. Associations were determined with regression. RESULTS: Pretreatment SNOT-22 score (adjusted ß = -0.83; 95% CI, -1.08 to -0.58; p < 0.001) and comorbid asthma (adjusted ß = 15.75; 95% CI, 4.74 to 26.75; p = 0.007) were associated with a change in SNOT-22 experienced over the study period. Achieving a greater-than-1 minimal clinically important difference (MCID) improvement in SNOT-22 score was also associated with pretreatment SNOT-22 score (adjusted OR = 1.09; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.14; p < 0.001) and comorbid asthma (adjusted OR = 0.13; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.72; p = 0.019). SNOT-22 score ≥47 had 81.5% sensitivity and 78.4% specificity to detect patients experiencing 1 MCID improvement. Pretreatment polyp score was not associated with any outcome metric. CONCLUSION: In treatment of CRSwNP with prednisone and budesonide irrigations, pretreatment endoscopy was not informative of treatment response. Pretreatment SNOT-22 and comorbid asthma may be more predictive.

The Proposed Usage of Intranasal Steroids and Antihistamines for Otitis Media with Effusion.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To examine the role of allergy medications in the treatment of otitis media with effusion (OME), focusing on use of intranasal steroids and antihistamines. RECENT FINDINGS: There has been ongoing controversy regarding the role of allergy in the development of OME. Treatment of OME with medications commonly used for allergic symptomatology has been studied. Proposed treatment options include decongestants, mucolytics, oral steroids, topical steroids, antihistamines, and antibiotics. We begin by evaluating the proposed association between allergy and OME, and then evaluate intranasal steroids and oral antihistamine therapy in the treatment of OME. The role of the adenoid and concurrent nasal symptomatology is also addressed. The preponderance of data suggests that neither intranasal steroids nor antihistamines improve the long-term clearance of isolated OME and are therefore not recommended. However, data are notably limited with regard to improvement rates in OME in patients specifically with concurrent allergy and/or adenoid hypertrophy. Future studies of medications for OME would ideally incorporate study designs controlling for both allergic rhinitis and adenoid hypertrophy, to better understand the impact of these medications on OME in these subgroups of patients.

Differential perception and tolerance of chronic rhinosinusitis symptoms as a confounder of gender-disparate disease burden.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have consistently shown that females with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) have a greater CRS symptom burden than males with CRS. Our objective was to determine whether differential disease perception could explain this phenomenon. METHODS: A total of 500 participants (239 males, 261 females) with CRS were recruited. CRS symptom burden was assessed with the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). General health-related quality of life was assessed with the visual analog scale of the 5-dimensional EuroQol questionnaire (EQ-5D VAS). Participants were asked to rate their CRS symptom control as "Not at all," "A little," "Somewhat," "Very," and "Completely." "Not at all," "A little," and "Somewhat" controlled symptoms were considered to reflect poorly controlled symptoms. RESULTS: SNOT-22 score was significantly more severe (p < 0.001) among females (mean, 44.0; standard deviation [SD], 22.5) than males (mean, 36.3; SD, 20.2). However, there was no significant difference in male- vs female-reported CRS symptom control (p = 0.154). In addition, there was no significant difference (p = 0.109) in EQ-5D VAS score between males (mean, 70.9; SD, 19.0) and females (mean, 68.4; SD, 19.5). Although a SNOT-22 score of ≥25 was predictive of poorly controlled symptoms in males (sensitivity, 82.6%; specificity, 62.5%), a SNOT-22 score of ≥30 was predictive of poorly controlled symptoms in women (sensitivity, 82.4%; specificity, 64.5%). CONCLUSION: Females with CRS reported more severe SNOT-22 scores, despite reporting a similar level of symptom control and general health-related quality of life as men. Women had a higher SNOT-22 threshold for poorly controlled symptoms. Female CRS patients may have greater perception and tolerance of CRS symptoms without a corresponding significant, disparate downstream impairment.

Longitudinal improvement in nasal obstruction symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis directly associates with improvement in mood.

PURPOSE: The effects of nasal obstruction in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are associated with depressed mood. We sought to validate this finding by determining whether improvement in nasal obstruction would translate to improvement in depressed mood. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of 150 patients undergoing medical management for CRS. Data were collected at two timepoints: enrollment and a subsequent follow-up visit 3-12 months later. Impact of nasal obstruction was measured using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) instrument and depressed mood was measured using the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2). Sinonasal symptoms associated with CRS were also measured using the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). Clinical and demographic characteristics were collected. The relationship between changes in PHQ-2 and NOSE scores was determined with correlation and linear regression. RESULTS: Change in PHQ-2 score was significantly correlated with change in NOSE score (ρ = 0.30, p < 0.001). After controlling for covariates, change in PHQ-2 score was associated with change in NOSE score (adjusted linear regression coefficient [ß] = 0.014, 95% CI 0.006-0.022, p = 0.001). We confirmed these relationships, finding that change in PHQ-2 was associated (adjusted ß = 0.037, 95% CI 0.013-0.061, p = 0.003) with change in the nasal subdomain score of the SNOT-22. Improvement in NOSE score by greater than 22 points was predictive of improvement in PHQ-2 score with sensitivity 54.5% and 83.8% specificity (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These results provide evidence that improvements in nasal manifestations/symptoms of CRS translate to significant improvements in mood.

Seasonal variations in chronic rhinosinusitis symptom burden may be explained by changes in mood.

PURPOSE: There are many year-round modifiers of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, it is unknown whether there are seasonal variations in the sinonasal symptom burden of CRS. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of sinonasal symptom burden measured using the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and its four associated nasal, sleep, ear/facial discomfort and emotional subdomains in 1028 individuals with CRS. The season (winter, spring, summer or fall) when the SNOT-22 was completed was recorded. Regressions, controlling for clinical and demographic characteristics, were performed to seek association between season of the year and SNOT-22 total and subdomain scores. RESULTS: The mean SNOT-22 scores were 37.4 for those individuals completing their SNOT-22 in the fall, 40.5 in the winter, 37.4 in the spring and 36.0 in the summer. There was a statistically significant association between higher SNOT-22 scores and completing the SNOT-22 in the wintertime (adjusted ß = 4.08, 95% CI 0.74-7.42, p = 0.017). When seeking association between season and SNOT-22 subdomain scores, wintertime was associated only with higher emotional (adjusted ß = 0.48, 95% CI 0.14-0.81, p = 0.006) and sleep (adjusted ß = 2.23, 95% CI 0.54-3.91, p = 0.010) subdomain scores. Examining individual SNOT-22 items, these associations were due to more symptoms related to depressed mood ("sad") and psychomotor retardation. CONCLUSION: There are seasonal variations in symptom burden of CRS patients, independent of aeroallergen hypersensitivity, with the greatest increase in baseline CRS symptomatology during the winter. This finding was most strongly associated with increased emotional symptomatology and depressed mood.

Clinical Traits Characterizing an Exacerbation-Prone Phenotype in Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: Acute exacerbation of chronic rhinosinusitis (AECRS) is associated with significant quality-of-life decreases. We sought to determine characteristics associated with an exacerbation-prone phenotype in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Tertiary care rhinology clinic. SUBJECTS: Patients with CRS (N = 209). METHODS: Patient-reported number of sinus infections, CRS-related antibiotics, and CRS-related oral corticosteroids taken in the last 12 months were used as metrics for AECRS frequency. Sinonasal symptom burden was assessed with the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). Ninety patients reporting 0 for all AECRS metrics were considered to have had no AECRS in the prior 12 months. A total of 119 patients reported >3 on at least 1 AECRS metric and were considered as having an exacerbation-prone phenotype. Characteristics associated with patients with an exacerbation-prone phenotype were identified with exploratory regression analysis. RESULTS: An exacerbation-prone phenotype was positively associated with comorbid asthma (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.42-9.50, P = .007) and SNOT-22 (ORadj = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.04-1.09, P < .001). Polyps were negatively associated (ORadj = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.11-0.68, P = .005) with an exacerbation-prone phenotype. SNOT-22 score ≥24 identified patients with an exacerbation-prone phenotype with a sensitivity of 93.3% and a specificity of 57.8%. Having either a SNOT-22 score ≥24 with a nasal subdomain score ≥12 or a SNOT-22 score ≥24 with an ear/facial discomfort subdomain score ≥3 provided >80% sensitivity and specificity for detecting patients prone to exacerbation. CONCLUSIONS: In total, these results point to a CRS exacerbation-prone phenotype characterized by high sinonasal disease burden with comorbid asthma but interestingly without polyps.

Determinants of noticeable symptom improvement despite sub-MCID change in SNOT-22 score after treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) is specific but not sensitive for identifying patients experiencing noticeable improvement in symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). It is unclear why some patients with less than 1 MCID change in SNOT-22 score nevertheless report noticeable improvement in their CRS symptoms. METHODS: This investigation was a retrospective study of 247 CRS patients undergoing medical management who completed SNOT-22 surveys in 2 consecutive visits 2-12 months apart. The validated nasal, sleep, ear/facial discomfort, and emotional SNOT-22 subdomain scores were calculated. At the second visit, patients reported their global change in CRS symptoms on a 5-item transition rating scale as: "Much worse"; "A little worse"; "About the same"; "A little better"; or "Much better." Patient-reported improvement in symptoms (at least "A little better") was tested for association with changes in SNOT-22 subdomain scores. RESULTS: In the entire cohort, patient-reported improvement in CRS symptoms was associated with improvement in all SNOT-22 subdomain scores (p < 0.001). In patients with less than 1 MCID (12 points) of change in the SNOT-22, only the nasal subdomain (adjusted odds ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-0.99; p = 0.042) was associated with patient-reported improvement in CRS symptoms. Changes in none of the other SNOT-22 subdomain scores were associated with patient-reported improvement in CRS symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with less than 1 MCID change in the SNOT-22, improvement in only nasal symptoms-but not extranasal symptoms-of CRS is associated with those who nevertheless report improvement of their CRS symptoms.

Treatment history and association between allergic rhinitis symptoms and quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Recalcitrance of allergic rhinitis (AR) to medical management may be reflective of patient-specific impact of AR symptoms. AIMS: To understand the relationship between AR symptoms and general health-related quality of life (QOL) or AR control, based on treatment status. METHODS: Cross-sectional cohort study of 130 adult participants-65 using no allergy medications and 65 consistently using intranasal corticosteroid sprays (ICS) in the last 3 months-presenting with persistent AR. General health-related QOL was measured using the EuroQol 5-dimensional visual analog scale (EQ-5D VAS). Severity and control of AR symptoms were measured using the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and the Rhinitis Control Assessment Test (RCAT), respectively. We compared associations between AR symptoms and general health-related QOL and AR control in patients presenting with persistent AR with and without ICS use. RESULTS: Severity of AR symptoms was similar between cohorts. In participants using no allergy medications, extranasal AR symptom severities were most dominantly associated with decreased EQ-5D VAS and RCAT score. In participants using ICS, only nasal symptom severities were associated with decreased EQ-5D VAS and RCAT scores. Consistently, only in participants on ICS was a deviated septum associated with decreased EQ-5D VAS (ß = - 12.1, 95% CI - 21.1 to - 3.1, p = 0.011) and poorly controlled AR (OR = 4.27, 96% CI 1.27 to 14.33; p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: In persistent AR despite consistent ICS use, nasal symptoms may be the dominant drivers of AR-associated decreased general health-related QOL in contrast to persistent AR on no medication, when extranasal symptoms of AR are most significant. Longitudinal study is needed to investigate whether these results are predictive of responsiveness to ICS.

Changes in chronic rhinosinusitis symptoms differentially associate with improvement in general health-related quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Previous work has shown that the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) differentially associate with decreased general health-related quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether longitudinal changes in different types of CRS symptomatology lead to correspondingly different magnitude changes in general health-related QOL. METHODS: Prospective observational study of 145 patients undergoing medical management for CRS. Chronic rhinosinusitis symptom severity was measured using the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and associated nasal, sleep, ear/facial discomfort, and emotional subdomains of the SNOT-22. General health-related QOL was measured using the 5-dimensional EuroQoL questionnaire's visual analog scale (EQ-5D VAS). These data were collected at 2 time points: at enrollment and at a subsequent follow-up visit within the next 2 to 6 months. Associations were sought between the changes in SNOT-22 and EQ-5D VAS. RESULTS: The change in SNOT-22 was associated with change in EQ-5D VAS (adjusted linear regression coefficient [ß] = -0.37, 95%CI: -0.51 to -0.24, P < .001). The change in EQ-5D VAS was only associated with changes in the sleep (adjusted ß = -0.42, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: -0.81 to -0.04, P = .034) and ear/facial discomfort (adjusted ß = -1.00, 95%CI: -1.89 to -0.10, P = .031) subdomains but not nasal (adjusted ß = -0.12, 95%CI: -0.52 to 0.28, P = .564) or emotional (adjusted ß = -0.17, 95%CI: -1.83 to 1.49, P = .840) subdomains. CONCLUSION: Changes in the severity of sleep and ear/facial discomfort symptoms associate most greatly with the change in general health-related QOL that CRS patients experience during routine medical management. Reduction of these extranasal symptoms of CRS may therefore lead to the greatest improvement in general health-related QOL.