Abstract
Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess whether subjective symptoms and objective findings of rhinosinusitis are more common in COPD patients compared to controls with normal lung function.
Methods: Patients with stable COPD were recruited at University Hospital Basel. Subjects with normal lung function (FVC>80% predicted and FEV1/FVC>70%) who have received a cranial computed tomography (cCT) were included in the control group, matched based on age and gender. A cCT was performed in the case group. CCT was assessed with the Newman scoring system. Rhinosinusitis localization was distinguished between frontal, maxillary, sphenoidal and ethmoidal sinus and osteomeatal complex and evaluated withSino Nasal Outcome Test-20 (SNOT-20) questionnaire. Nasal symptoms were determined separately with sub-score SNOT-Primary Nasal Symptoms (PNS) (>12 points: abnormal in both scores).
Results: 83 COPD patients (35 females, mean age: 67yrs±10) and 35 controls (19 females, mean age: 69yrs±11) were analyzed. COPD patients did not show significantly more abnormal results in SNOT-20 questionnaire than controls (48 (59%) vs. 14 (40%)), but there was a significant difference in SNOT-PNS sub-score (COPD vs controls, 49 (59%) vs. 9 (26%)). 49 COPD patients (59%) and 13 controls (37%) revealed abnormal cCT scores, respectively. (all p<0.05) Locations of rhinosinusitis did not differ significantly between COPD patients and controls.
Conclusions: Specific nasal subjective and radiographic signs of rhinosinusitis are more common in COPD patients compared to controls. The localization of pathological findings in the sinuses do not seem to differ between both groups.
- © 2014 ERS