Benefits of biologic therapy administered for asthma on co-existent chronic rhinosinusitis: A real-world study

Background: Asthma and some chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) subtypes are mediated by similar pathophysiologic mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of biologic therapy for asthma on co-existent CRS in the real-world setting. Methods: A review of electronic health records (2016-2019) at Mayo Clinic was conducted to identify asthma patients treated with biologics who had co-existent CRS. Matched-pair analyses compared pretherapy and posttherapy Lund-Mackay computed tomography (CT) scores and 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scores. Performance of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) after initiating biologics was studied. Results: We identified 247 patients who received anti-asthma biologic therapy and had co-existent CRS. Of these, 181 patients (73.3%) had CRS with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) and 66 (26.7%) had CRS without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP). The biologics utilized were omalizumab (51.0%), mepolizumab (46.6%), benralizumab (10.5%), reslizumab (1.6%), and dupilumab (2.4%). Anti-interleukin-5 (anti-IL-5) intervention was associated with significant improvement in CT scores (CRS overall, CRSwNP subgroup, CRSsNP subgroup) and SNOT-22 scores (CRS overall, CRSwNP subgroup). Patients on omalizumab had a decrease in CT scores, but not SNOT-22 scores. ESS was performed in 206 patients (84.1%); 55 (22.3%) underwent surgery post-biologic intervention (anti-IL-5: 16.5%; omalizumab 27.8% of patients). Conclusion: Anti-IL-5 agents were associated with improved CT and SNOT-22 scores in the overall CRS group and in CRSwNP subgroup; CRSsNP patients showed improved CT scores only. Omalizumab improved CT but not SNOT-22 scores. ESS was performed in 22% of patients after initiating biologics. These real-world results may influence future trial designs and clinical applications of biologics for CRS. (c) 2021 ARSAAOA, LLC.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the effects of biologic therapy for asthma on co-existent CRS and found that anti-IL-5 agents improved CT and SNOT-22 scores in the overall CRS group and CRSwNP subgroup. Omalizumab improved CT scores but not SNOT-22 scores, with 22% of patients undergoing ESS after initiating biologics. These real-world results may impact future trial designs and clinical applications of biologics for CRS.