A cross-sectional, population-based survey of U.S. adults with symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is believed to create a substantial population-level disease burden in the UnitedStates due to its high prevalence and significant disease morbidity, but many studies of CRS epidemiology are based onadministrative or historical record sources rather than primary population sources.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize CRS symptoms, burden, and patient characteristics by using a primary U.S. population- basedrepresentative sample.

METHODS: A demographically and geographically representative sample of 10,336 U.S. adults recruited from a general panelof 4.3 million were obtained by using three-stage randomization. Data collected included a range of respondent-reported CRSsymptoms, symptom impact and severity, symptom duration, and treatment.

RESULTS: Approximately 11.5% of the respondents (n = 1189) reported defining symptom and duration criteria for CRS. Aprevious diagnosis of nasal polyps was reported by 10% of this population. The remaining respondents reported severe (7.3%)or moderate (3.1%) symptom severity. The most frequently reported defining symptoms were nasal congestion and/orobstruction (94-97%) and drainage (89-92%). CRS participants reported a high average degree of symptom burden (e.g., ona 0-10 scale, 8.2 for CRS with nasal polyps, 8.4 for CRS without nasal polyps with severe symptoms, and 6.4 for CRS withoutnasal polyps with moderate symptoms). The participants with CRS reported high health-care use for CRS, adverse effects of CRS symptoms on multiple areas of daily life, and high dissatisfaction with currently available treatments.

CONCLUSION: More than 10% of the general U.S. adult population have CRS symptoms. Most report severe symptoms, lack of satisfaction with current treatment options, and a substantial adverse impact on daily functioning.