Epidemiology of Chronic Rhinosinusitis: Prevalence and Risk Factors

Knowledge of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) epidemiology may directly impact patient care: aiding patient identification and establishing accurate diagnosis as well as informing treatment decisions. The objective of this review is to summarize the current evidence on the epidemiology of CRS, with a focus on prevalence and risk factors. Although the presence of either symptoms or objective findings alone have yielded CRS prevalence estimates of over 10%, the presence of both-consistent with guideline-based diagnostic criteria for CRS-has suggested that the true prevalence of CRS is consistently less than 5%, with approximately one-third of patients with CRS having nasal polyps, in epidemiologic studies from around the world. In comparison, the prevalence of CRS endotypes-pathophysiologic subclassification of CRS most commonly as related to type 2 or non-type 2 inflammation-has been found to vary significantly by region. The epidemiology of CRS is modified and ultimately determined by risk factors: genetic/hereditary, demographic, environmental, and imparted by predictive pre-/comorbid disease. The understanding of these epidemiologic relationships may help the provider to optimally identify and understand each individual's CRS disease process, thereby improving both diagnosis and treatment. (C) 2022 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Automated summary

Knowledge of the epidemiology of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is essential for patient care, including accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions. The current evidence suggests that the prevalence of CRS is consistently less than 5%, with about one-third of CRS patients having nasal polyps. The classification of CRS endotypes, mainly related to type 2 or non-type 2 inflammation, varies significantly by region. The epidemiology of CRS is influenced by various risk factors, such as genetics, demographics, environment, and comorbid diseases. Understanding these relationships can improve the diagnosis and treatment of CRS.