Impact of sociodemographic status and sex on chronic rhinosinusitis and olfaction in people with cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Sociodemographic status (SDS) including race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status as approximated by education, income, and insurance status impact pulmonary disease in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). The relationship between SDS and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) remains understudied. METHODS: In a prospective, multi-institutional study, adult PwCF completed the 22-Question SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), Smell Identification Test (SIT), Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorder Negative Statements (QOD-NS), and Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R). Lund-Kennedy scores, sinus computed tomography, and clinical data were collected. Data were analyzed across race/ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic factors using multivariate regression. RESULTS: Seventy-three PwCF participated with a mean age of 34.7 ± 10.9 years and 49 (67.1%) were female. Linear regression identified that elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) use (ß = â€’4.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] [‒6.08, ‒2.11], p < 0.001), female sex (ß = â€’2.14, 95% CI [‒4.11, ‒0.17], p = 0.034), and increasing age (ß = â€’0.14, 95% CI [‒0.22, ‒0.05], p = 0.003) were associated with lower/better endoscopy scores. Private health insurance (ß = 17.76, 95% CI [5.20, 30.32], p = 0.006) and >16 educational years (ß = 13.50, 95% CI [2.21, 24.80], p = 0.020) were associated with higher baseline percent predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (ppFEV1). Medicaid/Medicare insurance was associated with worse endoscopy scores, CFQ-R respiratory scores, and ppFEV1 (all p < 0.017), and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity was associated with worse SNOT-22 scores (p = 0.047), prior to adjustment for other cofactors. No other SDS factors were associated with SNOT-22, QOD-NS, or SIT scores. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in objective measures of CRS severity exist among PwCF related to sex, age, and ETI use. Variant status and race did not influence patient-reported CRS severity measures or olfaction in this study. Understanding how these factors impact response to treatment may improve care disparities among PwCF. CLINICAL TRIALS: NCT04469439.

Multi-institutional validation of an AI-based sinus CT analytic platform with olfactory assessments.

KEY POINTS: AI-based CT sinus analysis may have advantages over visual based systems, for example, Lund-Mackay score. Here, we show multi-institutional validation of an AI algorithm using novel OMC classification. Significant, robust correlations are seen between algorithm outputs and clinical outcomes.

Development of a novel self-assessment tool following endoscopic sinus surgery in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: To propose a novel quality metric tool for retrospectively examining ESS performed on chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients, ultimately to facilitate clinician self-assessment and optimize care provision within this population. DESIGN: Quality improvement study. SETTING: Multi-center. PARTICIPANTS: Observational, prospective research database of adult patients with medically recalcitrant CRS, presenting to seven North-American academic rhinology centers, who underwent ESS between 2011 and 2021. Participant characteristics, comorbidities, and preoperative study measures were collected. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: A simple ratio of preoperative Lund-Mackay (LM) score to the number of sinus regions operated on during the course of ESS was determined for each participant and dichotomized into ratios of >1.0 or <1.0. RESULTS: 828 study participants with medically recalcitrant CRS met final study inclusion, of which 47.8 % were male with an average age of 49.0 years. Approximately 50.9 % of participants had a history of previous ESS. Overall mean ratio between preoperative LM scores and numbers of surgically addressed sinuses for all patients with CRS (n = 828) was 1.61 (range: 0.00-6.00), with a minority of subjects (n = 108; 13.0 %) found to have ratios below 1.00. Mean ratios between patients who underwent primary ESS versus revision ESS were not statistically different (2.00 [±0.83] vs 1.98 [±0.88]; 0.02 %, 95 % CI -0.10, 0.14; P = 0.76), whereas differences in mean ratios between CRSsNP patients (without nasal polyposis) and CRSwNP patients (with nasal polyposis) were statistically significant (1.78 [±0.93] vs 2.26 [±0.67]; 0.48 %, 95 % CI 0.37, 0.59; P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This quality metric ratio represents a simple operational means for clinicians to integrate qualitative methodology into self-reflection when evaluating the extent of ESS performed on CRS patients. Its use as a clinical tool for retrospective self-reflection enables the surgeon to identify areas for improvement, assess situational specifics, and hone their craft.

The Impact of Acute Peri-operative Particulate Matter Exposure on Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Outcomes: A Preliminary Multi-site Investigation.

BACKGROUND: Environmental exposures have been postulated to play an important role in the pathophysiology of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Particulate matter (PM) is one of the most widely studied ambient air pollutants, but its peri-operative impact on CRS is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of acute, peri-operative PM exposure on outcomes after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). METHODS: Participants with CRS who self-selected ESS were prospectively enrolled. The 22-item SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short-Form 6-D (SF-6D) health utility values scores were recorded. Using residence zip codes, a secondary analysis of patient exposure to PM <2.5 µm and <10 µm (PM2.5 and PM10, respectively) was performed for the month of surgery utilizing data from Environmental Protection Agency air quality monitors. Spearman's correlation coefficients (ρ), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and effect estimates (ß) were used to determine the magnitudes of association. Simple, multivariate regression analysis was also completed. RESULTS: One hundred and seven patients from four geographically unique institutions across the US were enrolled with a follow-up of 6 months. Patients with higher peri-operative PM2.5 exposure had less improvement in their SNOT-22 scores after ESS compared to those with less exposure using both univariate analysis (ρ = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.43; P = .01) and after covariate adjustment with multivariate analysis (B = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.001, 2.14, P = .05). Similar associations were not found with SF-6D outcomes or with PM10 as an exposure of interest. No significant correlations were found between peri-operative PM levels and Lund-Kennedy endoscopy scores post-operatively. CONCLUSION: Preliminary data from this pilot study reveal that PM exposure at the time of ESS may negatively associate with post-operative improvement in sinonasal quality-of-life. Larger, population-based studies with more standardized PM exposure windows are needed to confirm the clinical significance of the present findings.

Recurrence morbidity of olfactory neuroblastoma.

BACKGROUND: With modern treatment paradigms, olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) has favorable overall survival (OS); however, the incidence of recurrence remains high. The primary aims of this study were to delineate the prognosis of recurrence of ONB and explore how recurrence subsites are associated with OS, disease-specific survival (DSS), and further recurrence. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of ONB cases from nine academic centers between 2005 and 2021 was completed. Tumor characteristics, recurrence subsites, timelines to recurrence, additional recurrences, and survival estimates were determined using descriptive and time-to-event analyses. RESULTS: A final cohort of 233 patients was identified, with 70 (30.0%) patients recurring within 50.4 (standard deviation ±40.9) months of diagnosis on average, consisting of local (50%), neck (36%), intracranial (9%), and distant (6%) recurrence. Compared with subjects without recurrence, patients with recurrence had significantly different primary American Joint Committee on Cancer T stage (p < 0.001), overall stage (p < 0.001), and modified Kadish scores (p < 0.001). Histopathology identified that dural involvement and positive margins were significantly greater in recurrent cases. First recurrence was significantly associated with worse 5-year DSS (hazard ratio = 5.62; p = 0.003), and subjects with neck or local recurrence had a significantly better DSS compared to intracranial or distant recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent cases of ONB have significantly different stages and preoperative imaging factors. Patients with local or neck recurrence, however, have better DSS than those with intracranial or distant recurrence, independent of initial tumor stage or Hyams grade. Identifying specific factors that confer an increased risk of recurrence and DSS is important for patient counseling in addition to surveillance planning.

Predictors of Sinonasal Improvement After Highly Effective Modulator Therapy in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis.

OBJECTIVES: The 22-question SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) assesses chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) severity. We aimed to identify predictors of SNOT-22 score improvement following highly effective modulator therapy (HEMT) initiation and to corroborate the SNOT-22 minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). METHODS: Prospective observational data was pooled from four studies across 10 US centers investigating people with CF (PwCF) and CRS. Three studies evaluated HEMT's impact on CRS. For participants enrolled prior to HEMT initiation, SNOT-22 scores were obtained at baseline and after 3-6 months of HEMT. Multivariate regression identified predictors of improvement. Cronbach's alpha and four distribution-based methods were used to assess internal consistency and calculate the MCID of the SNOT-22. RESULTS: A total of 184 PwCF participated with mean baseline SNOT-22 scores ranging from 18.1 to 56.7. Cronbach's alpha was ≥0.90 across sites. Participants at sites with pre- and post-HEMT data reported improvement in SNOT-22 scores after initiating HEMT (all p < 0.05). Worse baseline SNOT-22 score (odds ratio (OR): 1.05, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 1.02-1.08), F508del homozygosity (OR: 4.30, p = 0.040, 95% CI: 1.14-18.99), and absence of prior modulator therapy (OR: 4.99, p = 0.017, 95% CI: 1.39-20.11) were associated with greater SNOT-22 improvement. The mean MCID calculated via distribution-based methods was 8.5. CONCLUSION: Worse baseline sinonasal symptoms, F508del homozygosity, and absence of prior modulator therapy predicted greater improvement after HEMT initiation. The mean MCID for SNOT-22 in PwCF is 8.5 points, similar to non-CF individuals with CRS, and provides a threshold specifically for PwCF. The SNOT-22 has strong internal consistency in PwCF. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Patient perspectives on chronic rhinosinusitis in cystic fibrosis: Symptom prioritization in the era of highly effective modulator therapy.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is common in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). Rhinologic symptom prioritization and areas that influence CRS treatment choices, including pursuing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), remain understudied. METHODS: Adult PwCF + CRS were enrolled at eight centers into a prospective, observational study (2019-2023). Participants were administered the 22-SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) survey and a modified SNOT-22 instrument examining symptom importance. We determined importance rankings for individual symptoms and SNOT-22 symptom importance subdomains in two sets of subgroups-those pursuing ESS versus continuing medical management (CMT), and those on elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) versus not on ETI. RESULTS: Among 69 participants, the highest priorities were nasal congestion (n = 48, 69.6% important), post-nasal discharge (32, 46.4%), facial pain (29, 43.3%), waking up tired (27, 39.1%), and fatigue (26, 37.7%). Those electing surgery (n = 23) prioritized sleep and psychological dysfunction symptoms compared to those pursuing CMT (n = 49) (sleep median score = 19.0 [interquartile range: 12.0, 25.0] vs. 4.5 [0.0, 12.8]; p < 0.0001; psychological = 17.0 [7.0, 26.0] vs. 7.0 [0.0, 15.8]; p = 0.002). ETI users had comparable SNOT-22 total symptom importance scores to non-ETI users (p = 0.14). Non-ETI users (n = 34) showed a trend toward prioritizing sleep symptoms compared to ETI users (n = 35) (13.0 [2.8, 22.3] vs. 6.0 [2.0, 17.0]; p = 0.055). CONCLUSIONS: Nasal congestion and post-nasal discharge were top priorities reported by PwCF + CRS. Those electing surgery prioritized sleep and psychological symptoms, highlighting their importance in pre-operative discussions. Non-ETI users' prioritization of sleep improvement may highlight their unique disease impact and therapeutic needs; however, additional investigation is required.

Health care disparities and chronic rhinosinusitis: Does neighborhood disadvantage impact outcomes in sinonasal disease?

OBJECTIVE: Socioeconomic status (SES) is linked to health outcomes but has not been well studied in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The area deprivation index (ADI) is a comprehensive measure of geographic SES that ranks neighborhood disadvantage. This investigation used ADI to understand the impact of neighborhood disadvantage on CRS treatment outcomes. METHODS: A total of 642 study participants with CRS were prospectively enrolled and self-selected endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) or continued appropriate medical therapy as treatment. The 22-item SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short-Form 6-D (SF-6D) health utility value scores were recorded pre- and post-treatment. Using residence zip codes, national ADI scores were retrospectively assigned to patients. Spearman's correlation coefficients (Rs) and Cramer's V effect size (φc ) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: A history of ESS was associated with significantly worse ADI scores compared to no history of ESS (φc  = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.25; p < 0.001). Baseline total SNOT-22 (Rs = 0.14; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.22; p < 0.001) and SF-6D values (Rs = -0.20; 95% CI: -0.27, -0.12; p < 0.001) were significantly negatively correlated with national ADI rank. No significant correlations between ADI and within-subject improvement, or achievement of >1 minimal clinically important difference, in SNOT-22 or SF-6D scores after treatment were found. CONCLUSIONS: Geographic socioeconomic deprivation was associated with worse baseline disease severity and history of prior surgical intervention. However, ADI did not correlate with improvement in disease-specific outcomes. The impact of socioeconomic deprivation on outcomes in CRS requires further investigation.

All chronic rhinosinusitis endotype clusters demonstrate improvement in patient-reported and clinical outcome measures after endoscopic sinus surgery.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) endotypes show a differential response to endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). We explored patient mucous inflammatory cytokine expression and associations with patient-reported and clinically measured post-operative outcome measures. METHODS: Patients with CRS were prospectively recruited between 2016 and 2021 into a national multicenter, observational study. Mucus was collected from the olfactory cleft preoperatively and evaluated for 26 biomarkers using cluster analysis. Patient-reported outcome measures included the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Questionnaire of Olfactory Dysfunction (QOD). Additional clinical measures of disease severity included threshold, discrimination, and identification (TDI) scores using "Sniffin' Sticks" testing and Lund-Kennedy endoscopic score (LKES). RESULTS: A total of 115 patients were clustered into type 2 inflammatory, non-type 2 inflammatory, noninflammatory, and two indeterminate clusters based on individual protein levels. Overall, the type 2 inflammatory cluster was found to have the highest mean improvement in both SNOT-22 (-28.3 [standard deviation, ±16.2]) and TDI (6.5 [standard deviation, ±7.9]) scores 6 months after ESS. However, on average, all endotype clusters demonstrated improvement in all outcome measures after ESS without statistically significant between-group differences in SNOT-22 (p = 0.738), QOD (p = 0.306), TDI (p = 0.358), or LKES (p = 0.514) measures. CONCLUSIONS: All CRS endotype clusters responded favorably to surgery and showed improvements in patient-reported and objective outcome measures. Thus, ESS should be considered a more generalized CRS therapy, and benefits appear to not be limited to specific endotypes.

Does air pollutant exposure impact disease severity or outcomes in chronic rhinosinusitis?

BACKGROUND: Poor air quality increases the risk of developing chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and other airway diseases. However, there are limited data on air pollutants and CRS-specific disease severity. We assessed the impact of air pollutants on sinonasal-specific and general quality-of-life (QOL) measures in a multi-institutional cohort of patients with CRS. METHODS: Participants with CRS were prospectively enrolled in a cross-sectional study and self-selected continued appropriate medical therapy or endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). The 22-item SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short-Form 6-D (SF-6D) health utility value scores were recorded. Patient exposure to air pollutants was determined using residence zip codes. Unadjusted group differences were compared, and correlation coefficients were evaluated to identify the magnitude of bivariate association. RESULTS: A total of 486 patients were enrolled and followed for a mean of 6.9 (standard deviation [SD] ± 2.3) months. Pollutant exposure did not significantly correlate with baseline SNOT-22 or SF-6D scores. Revision ESS was associated with higher median fine particulate matter (PM2.5; Δ = 0.12, [95% confidence interval {CI}: 0.003, 0.234]; p = 0.006) compared with primary surgery. PM2.5, PM10, and nitrogen dioxide concentrations (µg/m3) did not correlate with change in total SNOT-22 or SF-6D scores after treatment. Nevertheless, sulfur dioxide (SNOT-22: ρ = -0.121 [95% CI: -0.210, -0.030]; p = 0.007; SF-6D: ρ = 0.095 [95% CI: 0.002, 0.186]; p = 0.04) and carbon monoxide (SNOT-22: ρ = -0.141 [95% CI: -0.230, 0.050]; p = 0.002) exposure did correlate with these outcome measures. CONCLUSION: Air pollutants may contribute, at least in part, to disease severity in CRS; future investigation is needed to further elucidate the nature of this relationship.

Factors that predict pursuing sinus surgery in the era of highly effective modulator therapy.

BACKGROUND: Comorbid chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) remains unresolved for many people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). While highly effective modulator therapy improves quality-of-life and symptom severity, the impact of this intervention and other factors associated with pursuing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) remains understudied. METHODS: Adult PwCF + CRS were enrolled into a prospective, observational, multi-institutional study. Participants completed validated outcome measures to evaluate respiratory symptom severity, depression, headache, and sleep quality, as well as nasal endoscopy, sinus computed tomography (CT), and olfactory testing. Bivariate comparisons and regression modeling evaluated treatment cofactors, disease characteristics, and outcome measures associated with pursuing ESS. RESULTS: Sixty PwCF were analyzed, including 24 (40%) who elected ESS. Pursuing ESS was associated with worse SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) total, rhinologic, psychological, and sleep dysfunction domain scores; worse Patient Health Questionnaire-9-Revised depression scores; worse Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total scores; worse weight, role, emotion, and eating domain scores on the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised; more severe disease on nasal endoscopy; and lack of modulator therapy (all p < 0.050). Multivariable regression identified that worse SNOT-22 total score was associated with electing ESS (odds ratio [OR] 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.16, p = 0.015) and elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) treatment (OR 0.04, 95% CI 0.004-0.34, p = 0.004) was associated with pursing medical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Worse sinonasal symptom burden, lack of ETI treatment, sleep quality, depression, and nasal endoscopy scores were associated with electing ESS, while lung disease severity and sinus CT scores were not. ETI use was associated with lower odds of pursuing ESS independent of sinonasal symptom burden.

Determining the minimal clinically important difference for the questionnaire of olfactory disorders in people with cystic fibrosis and factors associated with improvement after highly effective modulator therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is common among people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). The Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD) is a validated instrument that evaluates olfactory-specific quality-of-life. The QOD minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and factors associated with olfactory improvement after elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor have not been determined for PwCF. METHODS: Prospective observational data were pooled from three studies that enrolled adult PwCF with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). QOD scores and disease characteristics were assessed. To evaluate internal consistency and calculate the QOD MCID, Cronbach's alpha and four distribution-based methods were employed. For participants who enrolled prior to elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor, QOD scores were obtained at baseline and after elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor initiation. Multivariable regression was used to identify factors associated with QOD improvement. RESULTS: Of 129 PwCF included, 65 had QOD scores before and 3-6 months after starting elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor. Mean baseline QOD score was 6.5 ± 7.9. Mean Cronbach's alpha was ≥0.85. The MCID estimates were as follows: Cohen's effect size = 1.6, standard error of measurement = 2.5, ½ baseline standard deviation = 4.0, and minimal detectable change = 6.9. Mean MCID was 3.7. Of those with pre/post elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor QOD scores, the mean change in QOD was -1.3 ± 5.4. After elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor, QOD improvement surpassed the MCID in 22% of participants (14/65). Worse baseline QOD scores and nasal polyps were associated with improved QOD scores after elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (both p < 0.04). CONCLUSION: The QOD MCID in PwCF was estimated to be 3.7. Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor led to qualitative but not clinically meaningful improvements in QOD score for most PwCF; PwCF with worse baseline QOD scores and nasal polyps improved in a clinically significant manner.

Recurrence patterns among patients with sinonasal mucosal melanoma: A multi-institutional study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate recurrence patterns and survival after recurrence among patients with sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM). METHODS: This was a multi-institutional retrospective review from seven U.S. institutions of patients with SNMM from 1991 to 2022. Recurrence was categorized as local, regional, distant, or multifocal. Kaplan-Meier tests were used to evaluate disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and post-recurrence survival (PRS) reported with standard errors (SE) and log-rank testing used for comparison. Cox-regression was further used, with hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) reported. RESULTS: Among 196 patients with SNMM, there were 146 patients with recurrence (74.5%). Among all patients, 60-month DFS (SE) was 15.5% (2.9%), 60-month OS (SE) was 44.7% (3.7%), mean age ± standard deviation at diagnosis was 69.7 ± 12.5 years, and 54.6% were female. In 26 patients who underwent primary treatment of the neck, 60-month DFS did not differ from no treatment (p > 0.05). Isolated distant recurrence was most common (42.8%), followed by local (28.3%), multifocal (20.7%), and regional recurrence (8.3%). Among patients with regional recurrence in the neck, there was no 60-month PRS benefit for patients undergoing salvage neck dissection or radiation (p > 0.05). Among patients with distant recurrence, only immunotherapy was associated with improved 12-month PRS (HR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.11-0.92, p = 0.034), and no treatment group was associated with improved 24- or 60-month PRS (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: SNMM is associated with a high recurrence rate and poor survival. Primary treatment of the neck was not associated with reduced recurrence, and immunotherapy for treatment of distant recurrence was associated with increased 12-month PRS.

Sex Differences in Presentation and Surgical Outcomes From a Prospective Multicenter Chronic Rhinosinusitis Study.

OBJECTIVE: Despite extensive research into chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) epidemiology, presentation, and outcomes, there is scant knowledge on sex-specific differences. The objective of this study was to identify differences between male and female patients with CRS in baseline disease severity at presentation, choice for surgery vs continued medical treatment, and postoperative response. STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated data on demographic and health characteristics, clinical objective disease measures, and sinus-specific and general health patient-reported outcome measures. SETTING: Secondary analysis of prospective multicenter outcome study. METHODS: Comparison of cohort characteristics and baseline and postoperative measures was performed with a t test, chi-square test of independence, or Fisher exact test. Within-subject improvement was compared between sexes with a linear mixed model. RESULTS: Females reported worse quality of life on presentation and postsurgery, despite experiencing less severe disease by standard clinical measures. Overall, females and males showed similar within-subject improvement after surgery. However, certain quality of life domains and disease measures showed sex-specific improvement. Females demonstrated greater within-subject improvement in SF6D-derived health utility and the SNOT-22 ear and facial, psychological, and sleep subdomains, although this did not reach statistical significance for the overall cohort. CONCLUSION: Incorporating data on sex-specific differences may be important to personalize CRS treatment decision making. The discordance between patient-reported and clinical measures in CRS has been demonstrated in other pathologies and appears to be exaggerated by sex. Biological and psychological bases for sex-specific differences in CRS manifestations are an intriguing topic for further research.

Work productivity and activity impairment in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery-A prospective, multi-institutional study.

BACKGROUND: Productivity loss and activity limitations due to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are known to contribute to the significant economic and personal burden of disease. The purpose of this study was to assess productivity and activity impairment before and after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for medically refractory CRS. METHODS: This investigation was a prospective, multi-institutional, observational cohort study. Patients diagnosed with medically refractory CRS completed the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment-Specific Health Problem (WPAI-SHP) questionnaire before surgery and approximately 6 months after the procedure. Factors associated with minimal clinical important differences (MCIDs) for productivity and activity impairment were identified. RESULTS: A total of 279 study participants were screened for inclusion, of whom 176 (63.1%) with postoperative follow-up were included in the final cohort. Preoperative productivity and activity impairment were observed in 63.2% and 69.8% of the patients, respectively. Among these patients, postoperative improvement equaling at least 1 MCID was reported in both productivity (76.1%) and activity (76.4%) impairments. Multivariate regression identified sphenoidotomy (odds ratio [OR], 4.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-17.02) as the only factor associated with increased likelihood of productivity improvement, whereas septoplasty during ESS (OR, 8.45; 95% CI, 2.33-30.68) and migraine (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.12-0.96) were associated with differential odds of activity improvement. CONCLUSION: CRS is associated with a substantial burden on productivity and activity that significantly improves after treatment with ESS. These data may facilitate improved patient counseling and shared decision-making regarding surgical management for CRS.

A comparative analysis of endoscopic sinus surgery versus biologics for treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

BACKGROUND: Comparative effectiveness research between endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and biologic therapy for severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) is a nascent field as new therapeutic modalities become clinically available. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter cohort of CRSwNP patients, undergoing ESS between 2011 and 2019, were compared to phase-3 biologic trial data. Patients undergoing ESS received baseline nasal endoscopy quantified via Lund-Kennedy (LK) grading. Patients meeting inclusion criteria, modified from Dupilumab-LIBERTY-NP-24&52, omalizumab-POLYP-1&2, and Mepolizumab-SYNAPSE clinical trials, were included in this study. Baseline characteristics and outcome measures were compared between these cohorts at 24 weeks and 52 weeks, when possible. RESULTS: A total of 111 CRSwNP patients met modified inclusion criteria. There were no statistically significant differences in baseline age, sex, asthma status, aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease status, smell identification, LK-polyp score, and Lund-Mackay computed tomography (CT) scores between ESS and biologic groups. At 24 weeks, ESS demonstrated significantly greater improvements in 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) compared to one (of two) dupilumab trials (p < 0.05) and both omalizumab trials (p < 0.001). ESS associated with significantly lower nasal polyp scores (NPS) compared to dupilumab (p < 0.001) and omalizumab (p < 0.001), despite comparable improvements in smell identification (p > 0.05). At 52 weeks, ESS resulted in statistically similar improvement in SNOT-22 scores compared to dupilumab (p = 0.21), but NPS remained significantly lower in the ESS group compared to dupilumab (p < 0.001) and mepolizumab (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: At 24 weeks and 52 weeks, ESS offers comparable SNOT-22 improvements compared to dupilumab. ESS and dupilumab offer comparable improvement in smell identification at 24 weeks. Compared to omalizumab, ESS offers superior SNOT-22 improvements. ESS offers significantly greater reductions in polyp size compared to omalizumab, dupilumab, and mepolizumab therapies.

Evaluating Distance Bias in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Outcomes.

Importance: The distance traveled by patients for medical care is associated with patient outcomes (ie, distance bias) and is a limitation in outcomes research. However, to date, distance bias has not been examined in rhinologic studies. Objective: To evaluate the association of distance traveled by a cohort of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with baseline disease severity and treatment outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 505 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis were prospectively enrolled in a multi-institutional, cross-sectional study in academic tertiary care centers between April 2011 and January 2020. Participants self-selected continued appropriate medical therapy or endoscopic sinus surgery. The 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 6-D (SF-6D) health utility value scores were recorded at enrollment and follow-up. Data on the distances traveled by patients to the medical centers, based on residence zip codes, and medical comorbid conditions were collected. Exposures: Distance traveled by patient to obtain rhinologic care. Main Outcomes and Measures: SNOT-22 and SF-6D scores. Scores for SNOT-22 range from 0 to 110; and for SF-6D, from 0.0 to 1.0. Higher SNOT-22 total scores indicate worse overall symptom severity. Higher SF-6D scores indicate better overall health utility; 1.0 represents perfect health and 0.0 represents death. Results: The median age for the 505 participants was 56.0 years (IQR, 41.0-64.0 years), 261 were men (51.7%), 457 were White (90.5%), and 13 were Hispanic or Latino (2.6%). These categories were collected according to criteria described and required by the National Institutes of Health and therefore do not equal the entire cohort. Patients traveled a median distance of 31.6 miles (50.6 km) (IQR, 12.2-114.5 miles [19.5-183.2 km]). Baseline (r = 0.00; 95% CI, 0.00-0.18) and posttreatment (r = 0.01; 95% CI, -0.07 to 0.10) SNOT-22 scores, as well as baseline (r = -0.12; 95% CI, -0.21 to -0.04) and posttreatment (r = 0.07; 95% CI, -0.02 to 0.16) SF-6D scores, were not associated with distance. There was no clinically meaningful correlation between distance traveled and mean comorbidity burden. Nevertheless, patients with a history of endoscopic sinus surgery were more likely to travel longer distances to obtain care (Cliff delta = 0.28; 95% CI, 0.19-0.38). Conclusions and Relevance: Although this cross-sectional study found that some patients appear more willing to travel longer distances for chronic rhinosinusitis care, results suggest that distance traveled to academic tertiary care centers was not associated with disease severity, outcomes, or comorbidity burden. These findings argue for greater generalizability of study results across various cohorts independent of distance traveled to obtain rhinologic care. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02720653.

Financial Hardship Impacts Depression and Anxiety Among U.S. Patients with Sinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Mental health conditions are common in the United States, and recent efforts have examined the development of mental health conditions among patients with sinusitis. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between depression, anxiety, and financial hardship among patients with sinusitis. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using the 2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Data regarding demographics, perceived financial hardship, self-reported depression and anxiety, mental healthcare utilization, and treatment compliance were obtained. RESULTS: Among patients with sinusitis (N = 28 million adults), 9% reported depression and 24% reported anxiety. Sinusitis patients with depression and anxiety reported an increased severity of financial insecurity (p < 0.001). On multivariable logistic regression, worsening financial insecurity increased the odds of depression and anxiety. Patients reporting the highest financial insecurity severity had the highest odds of depression (OR = 3.88, 95% CI = 3.84-3.93, p < 0.001) and anxiety (OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 2.08-2.10, p < 0.001) among measures of financial stress. Specific financial stressors were independently associated with patient-reported depression and anxiety. Sinusitis patients with increased financial insecurity were more likely to require mental health services and treatment (p < 0.001), but were also more likely to report cost-related treatment noncompliance (p < 0.001) and reduced access to mental healthcare due to costs (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Perceived financial hardship is associated with self-reported depression and anxiety among patients with sinusitis. Sinusitis patients with financial hardship also face challenges in accessing and maintaining mental health services and treatment due to costs. Understanding the burden of financial insecurity on mental health and access to treatment may improve quality of care through the development of screening tools and individualized treatment strategies.