When It's Not Allergic Rhinitis: Clinical Signs to Raise a Patient's Suspicion for Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Abstract

Objective: To identify predictors of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in patients presenting with the chief complaint of nasal allergies. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Tertiary care, academic center. Methods: Clinical and demographic characteristics were collected from participants who were patients presenting with the chief complaint of nasal allergies. From all participants, a 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) was collected, and a modified Lund-Kennedy endoscopy score was calculated from nasal endoscopy. Association was sought between having CRS and variables of clinical and demographic characteristics, SNOT-22, and endoscopy score. Results: A total of 219 patients were recruited and 91.3% were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis; 45.2% were also diagnosed with CRS. Approximately half of the patients with CRS reported no intranasal corticosteroid usage. Having CRS was associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 2.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30-4.04, P =.004), endoscopy score (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.59-2.42, P