Premium
Gender‐specific differences in chronic rhinosinusitis patients electing endoscopic sinus surgery
Author(s) -
Lal Devyani,
Rounds Alexis B.,
Divekar Rohit
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international forum of allergy and rhinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.503
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 2042-6984
pISSN - 2042-6976
DOI - 10.1002/alr.21667
Subject(s) - medicine , chronic rhinosinusitis , nasal polyps , endoscopic sinus surgery , statistical significance , sinusitis , surgery
Background The objective of this study was to investigate gender‐specific differences in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients electing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Methods This study was a retrospective review of CRS patients electing ESS (2011–2013) at a tertiary‐care center. Results ESS was elected by 272 patients (mean age 54.6 years; 48.5% female). Mean Lund‐Mackay computed tomography (CT) score was 10.9; total 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) score was 41.8. Compared to men, women electing ESS had lower CT score (10.1 vs 11.7; p = 0.01) but higher total SNOT‐22 score (44.9 vs 39; p = 0.02). Women reported significantly worse postnasal drainage ( p < 0.0001) and embarrassment ( p = 0.0021). SNOT‐22 scores declined with advancing age (women, p = 0.003; men, p = 0.0005). Reduction in CT scores with age was seen only in males ( p = 0.03). Stratifying by age, females aged 61 to 80 years had higher SNOT‐22 scores compared to male counterparts ( p = 0.04), whereas CT scores were similar. More women underwent surgery for CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) (54.9%) whereas more men underwent surgery for CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) (57.4%), but this difference missed statistical significance ( p = 0.052). Women with CRSwNP had higher SNOT‐22 scores than men ( p = 0.02) for similar CT scores. Men electing ESS for CRSsNP had higher CT scores than women ( p = 0.02). Women with CRSsNP aged 18 to 40 years reported higher SNOT‐22 scores than men ( p = 0.003), even though CT scores were lower ( p = 0.005). Conclusion Equivalent numbers of men and women underwent ESS for CRS. Overall, women electing ESS had higher total SNOT‐22 scores and lower Lund‐Mackay CT scores than men. Women reported more problems with postnasal drainage (CRS overall, CRSsNP, and CRSwNP), embarrassment (CRS overall and CRSwNP), and facial pain (CRSwNP). Gender differences in CRS are poorly understood and merit further study.