The impact of asthma on quality of life and symptoms in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Objective

The study aims to evaluate how asthma influences on clinical symptoms, imaging scores and HRQL in CRS patients.

Methods

The study enrolled CRS patients and collected data about asthma status, clinical symptoms, allergic sensitization, computed tomography (CT) and 22-item SinoNasal Outcome questionnaire (SNOT-22). Matching pairs of asthmatic and non-asthmatic CRS patients were defined based on age, gender and nasal polyp presence. The difference between pairs in clinical symptoms, CT and SNOT-22 was then analyzed. The study enrolled mild to moderate asthma patients.

Results

From 250 CRS patients 65 (26%) had asthma. We found 60 CRS asthma and CRS non-asthma pairs based on age, gender and nasal polyp presence. There was no difference in total SNOT-22 score between asthma (46.5) and non-asthma (43.5) CRS groups (p < .357). There were more patients with allergy positive medical history in asthma group (66.1%) when we stratified for CRS phenotypes, gender and age. Comparing visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for clinical symptoms, smell (p < .013) was the only symptom significantly worse in CRS asthma group. Although there was no difference in Lund-Mackay score, there was a slightly higher osteitis score in CRS asthma group (5.21 vs. 3.45; p = .059).

Conclusion

CRS patients with asthma have significantly worse impairment of smell and taste when compared to non-asthmatic CRS patients. This is the only significant difference which is independent of nasal polyp presence, gender, age and allergy.