Sinonasal Symptoms in COPD: Burden and Associations with Clinical Markers of Disease

Abstract

Purpose Sinonasal symptoms are prevalent in COPD, and knowledge of the relationship between these symptoms and clinical markers of COPD is limited. This study explores the associations between the burden of sinonasal symptoms and clinical markers and thresholds recommended for guiding treatment decisions in the GOLD guidelines. Patients and Methods Sinonasal symptoms were quantified with the rhinological subscale of the Sino-Nasal-Outcome-Test (SNOT-22) in 93 COPD patients characterized by the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EPOS) 2012 diagnostic criteria for rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (RSsNP). Associations between a high burden, defined as a SNOT22_rhinological score of ≥11, and the following markers were assessed by adjusted multivariable linear regressions; severity of dyspnea [modified Medical Research Council (mMRC)] and cough [Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)], physical activity [6-minute walking distance (6MWD)], mortality risk (BODE index), and HRQoL [disease-specific COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and physical component summary, Short Form-36 version 2.0 (PCS SF-36v2)]. Odds ratios for the association of a high burden and threshold levels for regular treatment were estimated by adjusted binomial logistic regression models. Results A high burden was associated with greater severity of dyspnea and cough, lower 6MWD, higher BODE index and poorer HRQoL. The odds ratio of having CAT and SGRQ scores that are above the thresholds recommended for treatment was 5–7-fold greater in the high burden group. Conclusion A high burden of sinonasal symptoms is positively associated with the clinical markers of symptom severity and mortality risk and is inversely associated with physical activity and HRQoL in COPD. These findings add further support that the UAD concept also applies to COPD. Enquiry about sinonasal symptoms in COPD patients should be incorporated into the clinical routine.

Risk of new‐onset and prevalent disease in chronic rhinosinusitis: A prospective cohort study

“…Individuals with symptoms alone may include those with other conditions, such as rhinitis, that have symptoms similar to CRS and that have been shown to be associated with COPD. 32 The average age of respondents at CRISP1 was 55 years. This is the age at which we determined CRS status, not the age of CRS onset.…”

“…This pattern did not hold for all conditions; however, most notably, symptoms alone were associated with more than twice the odds of new‐onset COPD. Individuals with symptoms alone may include those with other conditions, such as rhinitis, that have symptoms similar to CRS and that have been shown to be associated with COPD 32 …”

Study of nasal mucosa histopathological changes in patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis

“…The correlation between the sinonasal symptoms and the severity of respiratory symptoms was evaluated in COPD patients, and it was found that a high burden of sinonasal symptoms is positively associated with the clinical markers of symptom severity (cough, and dyspnea) 3 .…”

“…Initial observations of the coexistence of allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and asthma led to the formulation of the concept of united airways diseases (UAD) 3 . Both the upper and lower airways share macroscopic and microscopic pathological features, with a similar allergic response in rhinitis and asthma 4 .…”