Chronic rhinosinusitis in Europe an underestimated disease.
Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common health problem, with significant medical cost and impact on general health. Even so, prevalence figures for Europe are unavailable. In this study, conducted by the GA2LEN network of excellence, the EP3OS diagnostic criteria are applied to estimate the prevalence of CRS in Europe.
Key messages from this study
- Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common health problem, with significant medical costs and impact on general health
- Impact on quality of life (QoL) of CRS is comparable with other chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and diabetes
- Estimating the prevalence of CRS is difficult because of shortcomings in current epidemiological methodology
- Prevalence of CRS is about 11% (10.9%) but there is substantial geographical variation inter countries and even within countries
- Disease was associated with smoking but smoking alone cannot explain the geographical variation of the disease.
- There is some evidence that CRS is more prevalent in the (warm) south than in the (colder) north.
- According to EPOS Physicians under diagnose CRS.
Study method: Questionnaire was sent to a random sample of adults (15-75 years). Definition of Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) based in EP3OS diagnostic criteria: the presence of more than two of the symptoms: (i) nasal blockage, (ii) nasal discharge, (iii) facial pain/pressure or (iv) reduction in sense of smell, for >12 weeks in the past year – with at least one symptom being nasal blockage or discharge.
Patients: 57.128 questionnaires returned presenting information from 19 centers in 12 countries.
D. Hastan, W. J. Fokkens, C. Bachert, R. B. Newson, J. Bislimovska, A. Bockelbrink, P. J. Bousquet, G. Brozek, A. Bruno, S. E. Dahlén, B. Forsberg, M. Gunnbjörnsdóttir, L. Kasper, U. Krämer, M. L. Kowalski, B. Lange, B. Lundbäck, E. Salagean, A. Todo-Bom, P. Tomassen, E. Toskala, C. M. van Drunen, J. Bousquet, T. Zuberbier, D. Jarvis & P. Burney
Allergy 2011; 66: 1216–1223.