Chronic recurrent rhinosinusitis: disease severity and clinical characterization.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to clinically characterize and determine disease severity parameters for chronic recurrent rhinosinusitis (CRRS).

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective.

METHODS: A consecutive series of adult patients undergoing evaluation for CRRS was prospectively evaluated. Patients with four or more acute rhinosinusitis episodes in the previous calendar year with an absence of symptoms between episodes were considered as manifesting CRRS. Symptom severity and disease data from the Rhinosinusitis Symptom Inventory was obtained, as well as Lund staging information from the paranasal sinus CT scan. The Lund staging scores for patients with CRRS were compared with a control group of patients without CRRS. Symptom domain scores and disease severity parameters were compared between the CRRS group and a third group of patients with chronic persistent rhinosinusitis.

RESULTS: In all, 30 patients met inclusion criteria for the diagnosis of CRRS. Mean age was 40.9 years with a 3:1 female preponderance. The mean Lund score for patients with CRRS was 3.79. Patients with CRRS failed to demonstrate a statistically different Lund score from control patients (mean Lund score, 4.26 [P = .538]). Symptom severity scores according to Rhinosinusitis Symptom Inventory domains were largely similar for the nasal, facial, and total symptom domains between patients with CRRS versus chronic persistent rhinosinusitis. However, patients with CRRS demonstrated statistically significant increases in oropharyngeal and systemic symptom domain scores. Patients with CRRS also had significant increases in number of antibiotic courses (4.8 vs. 2.9 [P < .001]) and number of missed workdays (8.8 vs. 4.6 d [P = .046]) attributable to rhinosinusitis.

CONCLUSION: Chronic recurrent rhinosinusitis is a distinct form of chronic rhinosinusitis differing somewhat from chronic persistent rhinosinusitis. However, patients with CRRS still experience significant symptoms associated with this diagnosis, which results in significant medication usage and workplace impact.