Modifiable Risk Factors for Symptom Burden in Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps: The Role of Obesity and Sleep Apnoea.

OBJECTIVE

To identify sociodemographic and clinical predictors of symptom severity and quality of life (QoL) impairment in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), diagnosed according to the latest EPOS 2020 criteria.

STUDY

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analytical study.

SETTING

Tertiary Care Center (University Hospital of Jaén, Spain).

METHODS

A total of 188 patients diagnosed with CRSwNP were evaluated. Symptom severity and QoL were assessed using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE-E) and the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of symptom burden.

RESULTS

Higher body mass index (BMI) and the presence of sleep apnoea were independently associated with increased symptom severity, as measured by both the NOSE-E (adj. R 2 = 0.224, p = 0.002) and the SNOT-22 (adj. R 2 = 0.242, p = 0.005). Smoking was associated in the bivariate analysis but was not retained in the multivariate models.

CONCLUSION

BMI and sleep apnoea are independent predictors of greater symptom burden and poorer QoL in CRSwNP. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating weight management and sleep apnoea screening into the multidisciplinary management of CRSwNP to improve patient outcomes.