Evaluating the Association of Obesity and Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this Meta‐analysis and systematic review was to perform a comprehensive assessment of the association of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with overweight/obesity, leptin hormone, and its associated metabolic dysregulation.Data SourcesOvid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, were searched for studies from 1946 to October 2022, using predefined syntax.Review MethodsOutcome data for the meta‐analysis were extracted on odds ratios (OR) of CRS prevalence based on the presence of overweight/obesity and mean serum leptin levels. A Meta‐analysis was performed using the DerSimonian‐Laird estimator to pool extracted data by the generalized inverse variance approach. Random effect models were utilized due to the small sample size. A qualitative synthesis was performed on articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria for the Meta‐analysis.ResultsThirty‐six studies met the systematic review inclusion criteria out of 1113 articles screened. A total of 6 studies were included in the pooled Meta‐analysis of the various outcome variables. Our pooled meta‐analysis observed a positive association between overweight/obesity and the prevalence of CRS (OR = 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17‐1.51). The pooled ratio of the means analysis of the mean serum leptin levels between CRS with nasal polyposis and control patients was 2.21 (95% CI: 1.45; 3.36).ConclusionOur pooled Meta‐analysis indicates a positive association between overweight/obesity and CRS. Future prospective studies are needed to explore the association between CRS and obesity with an understanding of potential confounding comorbidities, including studies focused on assessing the underlying immunologic mechanism of this association.

Obesity is Associated with Increased Risk of New‐Onset Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A United States Population‐Based Cohort Study

“…30 While our results, in combination with recent Meta-analyses, indicate an association between obesity and respiratory diseases like asthma and CRS, it appears obesity may not be associated with the development of systemic vasculitis as seen in patients with EGPA. 31,32 Although not a small-vessel vasculitis, previous research has shown giant cell arteritis, a systemic vasculitis, was negatively associated with obesity. For these reasons, it may be possible that obesity does not play a role in the development of the small-vessel vasculitis seen in patients with EGPA, and further research on this topic is needed.…”