Poor asthma outcomes predicted by chronic rhinosinusitis disease burden

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and asthma are inflammatory diseases of the unified airway that impact each other clinically and pathophysiologically. Our objective was to identify associations between CRS disease burden and asthma outcomes.

Methods Cross-sectional study of 122 asthmatic CRS patients. Each patient’s CRS burden was assessed with the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), and CRS-related antibiotics, CRS-related oral corticosteroids (OCS), and frequency of sinus infections in the last 3 months. Asthma outcomes were measured using the Asthma Control Test (ACT) as a reflection of overall asthma control and reflection asthma-related productivity loss, shortness of breath, sleep disturbance, and albuterol use. The relationship between CRS and asthma outcomes was investigated using Spearman correlation.

Results ACT score was correlated with SNOT-22 score (r=-0.40, p<0.001), use of CRS-related OCS (r=-0.29, p=0.001) and frequency of sinus infections (r=-0.27,p=0.003). SNOT-22 score and CRS-related OCS were correlated with asthma-related productivity loss (p<0.001), shortness of breath (p<0.05), sleep disturbance (p<0.001) and albuterol use (p<0.003). Frequency of sinus infections was associated with asthma-related productivity loss (p=0.005), sleep disturbance (p<0.001) and albuterol usage (p=0.002). CRS-related antibiotics usage was associated with asthma-related albuterol usage (p=0.032).

Discussion The state of CRS and asthma are connected as illustrated by the correlations between their respective disease burdens in the domains of patient impairment and risk. Treatment of uncontrolled CRS to improve symptoms and occurrence of acute exacerbations of CRS in asthmatic patients should be prioritized.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
12. Mai 2023