Geographic Variations in Healthcare Utilization and Expenditure for Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Population-Based Approach.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common and costly health problem in the United States. A better understanding of healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and healthcare expenditure (HCE) pertaining to CRS is required. The objective of this study is to investigate geographic variations in HCRU and HCE for CRS. STUDY TYPE/DESIGN: Retrospective study of administrative database. METHODS: Patients meeting pre-defined diagnostic criteria for CRS with continuous 1-year pre-index and 2-year post-index data were identified on IBM® Marketscan Research Databases over a 5-year period (2013-2017). Data pertaining to demographics, HCRU, and HCE were analyzed according to geographic region. Multivariable generalized linear models accounted for age, sex, baseline medication utilization, and co-morbidities. RESULTS: About 237,969 patients were included. Antibiotics were the most commonly prescribed medication (95%). Surgery rate (11%), immunotherapy (9.2%), oral steroid use (66%), and antibiotic utilization (mean 6.3 prescriptions) were highest in the South. However, visits with an otolaryngologist were considerably higher in the Northeast (62%). The Northeast region had the highest mean HCE ($2,449), which was 13% greater than HCE for the North Central region ($2,172). HCRU and HCE were higher in urban areas across all metrics, with 2-year HCE being 18% greater in urban areas ($2,374 vs. $2,019). Significant geographic variation in HCE was observed even after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSION: Significant geographic variations in HCRU and HCE exist for CRS even after adjusting for covariates. Future studies are needed to help direct quality improvement and cost-saving efforts as well as efficient resource allocation in an era of value-based care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:2641-2648, 2021.

Contemporary Incremental Healthcare Costs for Chronic Rhinosinusitis in the United States.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: Determine contemporary incremental increases in healthcare expenditures and utilization associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of national health care survey data. METHODS: Patients reporting a diagnosis of CRS were extracted from the 2018 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey medical conditions file and linked to the consolidated expenditures file. CRS patients were then compared to non-CRS patients determining differences in healthcare utilization for office visits, emergency facility visits, and prescriptions filled as well as differences in total healthcare costs, office-based costs, prescription medication costs, and self-expenditures using demographically and comorbidity adjusted multivariate models. Results were compared to 2007, adjusted for inflation. RESULTS: An estimated 7.28 ± 0.36 million adult patients reported CRS in 2018 (3.0 ± 0.1% of the adult U.S. population). The additional incremental healthcare utilizations associated with CRS relative to non-CRS patients for office visits, emergency facility visits, and number of prescriptions filled were 4.2 ± 0.6, 0.10 ± 0.03, and 6.0 ± 0.9, respectively (all P ≤ .003). Similarly, additional incremental healthcare expenditures associated with CRS for total health care expenses, office-based visit expenditures, prescription expenditures, and self-expenditures were $1,983 ± 569, $772 ± 139, $678 ± 213, and $68 ± 17, respectively (all P ≤ .002). Increases in total (+$1,062) and office based expenditures (+$360) compared to 2007 were significant. CONCLUSION: CRS continues to be associated with a substantial incremental increase in healthcare utilization and expenditures. These expenditures have significantly outpaced inflation expected increases. The national healthcare costs of CRS have increased to an estimated $14.4 billion per year. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 131:2169-2172, 2021.

Direct Costs of Acute Rhinosinusitis in Spain: A Prospective and Observational Study(PROSINUS)

Background: The incidence of acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) is high throughout the world. Although diagnosis is clinical and disease course is mostly self-limiting, diagnostic tools and medications are overused by physicians, thus increasing the direct medical costs of the disease. Objective: The aim of the PROSINUS study was to quantify the direct medical costs of management of ARS in Spain. Methods: We performed a prospective observational study of 1610 patients with a clinical diagnosis of nonbacterial, uncomplicated ARS. According to the duration of symptoms by the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps, patients were classified as having viral or postviral ARS with different levels of severity. Direct medical costs were calculated based on medical visits, use of diagnostic tools, and medications prescribed. Results: Overall, the mean (SD) direct medical costs per episode were €322.3 (301.2) vs €441.1 (344.3) for viral and postviral ARS episodes, respectively (P<.001). When viral and postviral disease were compared, the medical costs per episode were €245.0 (265.4) vs €328.4 (301.9) for medical visits (P<.001), €38.1 (64.0) vs €61.9 (78.8) for diagnostic tools (P<.001), and €39.2 (25.9) vs €50.8 (25.3) for medications prescribed (P<.001). Conclusions: The direct medical costs of postviral ARS episodes were higher than those of viral episodes (common cold). Uncomplicated nonbacterial ARS represents an important socioeconomic burden owing to the excessive number of medical visits, use of diagnostic tools, and medications prescribed (AU)

Antecedentes: La rinosinusitis aguda (RSA) tiene una alta incidencia en la población general. Aunque el diagnóstico es clínico y la evolución es principalmente autolimitada, existe un uso excesivo de herramientas diagnósticas y medicamentos por parte de los médicos, lo que aumenta los costes médicos directos de la enfermedad. Objetivo: El objetivo del estudio PROSINUS fue cuantificar los costes médicos directos del manejo de la RSA en España. Métodos: En un estudio observacional prospectivo, se incluyeron 1.610 pacientes con diagnóstico clínico de RSA no bacteriana y no complicada en España. De acuerdo con la duración de los síntomas según EPOS, los pacientes con RSA se clasificaron como RSA viral o posviral en función de los diferentes niveles de gravedad. Los costes médicos directos se calcularon según las visitas médicas realizadas, el uso de herramientas diagnósticas y los medicamentos recetados. Resultados: En general, los costes médicos directos por episodio fueron de 322,3€ ± 301,2€ y de 441,1€ ± 344,3€ para los episodios de RSA viral y posviral respectivamente (p <0,001). Al comparar viral versus posviral, los costes médicos por episodio de RSA fueron de 245,0€ ± 265,4€ vs. 328,4€ ± 301,9€ (p <0,001) para las visitas médicas, de 38,1€ ± 64,0€ vs. 61,9€ ± 78,8€ (p <0,001) para las herramientas diagnósticas, y de 39,2€ ± 25,9€ vs. 50,8€ ± 25,3€ (p <0,001) para los medicamentos recetados. Conclusiones: Los costes médicos directos de los episodios de RSA posviral fueron más altos que los virales (resfriado común). La RSA no bacteriana no complicada representa una carga socioeconómica importante debido a un número excesivo de visitas médicas, de herramientas diagnósticas y de medicamentos recetados (AU)

Systematic literature review of humanistic and economic burdens of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) of randomized controlled trials and real-world evidence (RWE) studies to determine the humanistic (e.g. health-related/disease-specific quality of life [QOL]) and economic (e.g. direct and indirect costs) burdens of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). METHODS: The SLR adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Embase, MEDLINE and Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews databases were searched using OVID. Relevant studies involving adult patients with CRSwNP published between 1 January 2008 and 16 February 2019 were included, with relevant conference abstracts from 1 January 2017, onward. RESULTS: Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test (SNOT)-22 was the most frequently used disease-specific health-related QOL/patient-reported outcomes instrument for patients with CRSwNP. Baseline SNOT-22 scores ranged from 25 to 73 for surgical candidates and from 14 to 56 for medically managed patients with CRSwNP. Mean baseline EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) index for patients with CRSwNP ranged from 0.81 to 0.86, and mean baseline Short Form-6 Dimensions (SF-6D) ranged from 0.67 to 0.75. Three months (EQ-5D) and 5 years (SF-6D) post-endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), rates increased from 0.81 to 0.89 and from 0.69 to 0.80, respectively. One year post-diagnosis, patients with CRSwNP had significantly more systemic prescriptions, underwent significantly more medical procedures, demonstrated greater health care resource utilization and had significantly greater mean health care costs compared with matched controls (all p < .001). Overall, for patients with initial ESS, CRSwNP was associated with higher disease-related expenditures compared with CRS without nasal polyposis (NP), even for patients who did not undergo revision surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This SLR identified substantial humanistic burden among surgery candidates. RWE shows that surgeries were used to treat relatively more severe CRSwNP patients as recommended by guidelines. Patient QOL is improved significantly after surgery; however, there is a lack of evidence on patients with revision surgery. Surgery is also associated with higher costs, and the presence of NP was a predictor of revision surgery. Patients with CRSwNP demonstrate greater health care resource utilization and costs compared to those with CRS without NP. Costs associated with different severity of CRSwNP and revision surgery need to be assessed further.

A Critical Look at the Efficacy and Costs of Biologic Therapy for Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a highly prevalent disease that results in significant healthcare-related costs as well as costs to society with lost productivity and time. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of patients who suffer with this disease will not find relief from current standard of care medications and surgery. With ongoing efforts to understand the pathophysiology of CRSwNP has come the introduction of monoclonal antibodies, or "biologics," targeting specific elements of the inflammatory pathway in CRSwNP. Despite efficacy, these come at significant cost and, to date, no studies on the cost-efficacy of these biologics in CRSwNP have been published. RECENT FINDINGS: Multiple studies have now demonstrated efficacy for biologics in the treatment of CRSwNP as a primary indication. However, the gains in quality of life and objective measures, while consistent, are small and, arguably, the clinical significance is still unclear. In addition, the high cost of these medications may be hard to justify when evaluated in cost-efficacy studies against standard of care therapy in CRSwNP. Furthermore, while the current literature is most robust in showing the benefit of the biologics in asthma, it does not fully support cost-efficacy for biologics. This review evaluates the current literature regarding efficacy of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of CRSwNP and considers this efficacy in light of the cost implications to individuals and society.

The socioeconomic cost of chronic rhinosinusitis study.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is highly prevalent, affecting 11% of the population. Studies evaluating the socio-economic impact of CRS are mostly limited to the US population. Currently there is no study that has evaluated the socio-economic costs of CRS in the UK. METHODS: A case-control study of patients with CRS and healthy controls was conducted to investigate the wider socio-economic impact of the disease. Data on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), health resource utilisation, productivity losses and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) via the EQ-5D and SNOT-22 instruments, were collected from questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 139 CRS participants and 67 control participants completed the questionnaires. The average total OOPE per patient extrapolated to a 12-month period was £304.84. Other important findings include significantly higher reported primary care interactions (4.14 vs. 1.16) as well as secondary care interactions (2.61 vs 0.4) in CRS group as compared to controls over three-months. The average total missed workdays was estimated to be 18.7 per patient per year. The estimated incremental healthcare cost of CRS per year is £16.8 billion or £2.8 billion per million inhabitants. Factors predictive of a higher OOPE include higher household occupancy and income and these accounted for only 9.7% of the total variance in total OOPEs. Other socioeconomic, demographic and HRQoL variables were not found to be predictive factors of OOPE. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that CRS has a significant wider economic burden beyond the immediate direct healthcare costs. CRS participants had a high level of healthcare service use, OOPE and productivity loss. Results from this study will add to the existing limited data both for the UK and abroad and emphasises the need for effective treatments for these patients to reduce the disease impact.

Assessment of cost of illness and quality of life in chronic rhinosinusitis patients with surgical treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a popular and tiring disease with significant impacts on the economy and on the Health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL) of patients. This study aims to estimate the cost of illness (COI) and to assess the Health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in patients with CRS who underwent surgery in Vietnam and to analyse the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and the COI as well as the HRQOL. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Ear, Nose, Throat Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City (ENT Hospital HCMC), Vietnam between August and October 2018. The direct medical and non-medical costs, the indirect costs (productivity loss), and the HRQOL of patients with CRS were measured. A subjective assessment of quality of life (QOL) using EuroQol 5 Dimensions 5 Levels (EQ-5D-5L) was used to evaluate the health status of these patients after surgery. Characteristics related with the COI and the HRQOL were identified by multiple regression. RESULTS: A total of 264 inpatients with CRS participated in the study. The mean COI for inpatients with CRS was $812.83 and direct costs accounted for a major proportion (89.32%) of the total cost. In addition, the surgery represented the most significant direct medical cost with 58.57% of the total cost. Most of the patients reported no problems with mobility (89.1%), self-care (93.9%), usual activities (77.2%), and anxiety/depression (64.0%). The mean EQ-5D-5L utility score was 0.76 (SD = 0.17), and the mean Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) score was 76.57 (SD = 13.34). The results of multiple regression showed that gender, occupations, monthly income, prior surgery and family history of CRS affected the total cost while the HRQOL of patients were related to education, smoking behaviour, exercise behaviour and family history of CRS. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that although endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) accounted for the largest expense in the COI, this surgical treatment helped to improve the HRQOL in patients with CRS. The findings provided a reference for policy makers in CRS management as well as for adjustment of costs for patients so as to reduce disease burden and to enhance their QOL.

A call for cost-effectiveness analysis for biologic therapies in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the need for cost-effectiveness analysis of biologic therapies in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). DATA SOURCES: Clinical trials of monoclonal antibodies (omalizumab, benralizumab, mepolizumab and dupilumab) for nasal polyposis or chronic rhinosinusitis published on PubMed. STUDY SELECTIONS: Clinical trials of biologic therapies in CRS and nasal polyposis. RESULTS: No cost-effectiveness analyses of biologic therapies in CRS have been performed. CONCLUSION: As more clinical trials of biologic therapies for CRS are conducted, there is a need for cost-effectiveness analysis. Future analyses should consider these therapies as part of medical therapeutic options compared with surgery. To increase generalizability, analyses should include samples from allergy and primary care clinics rather than only otolaryngology clinics.

Cost burden and resource utilization in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Establish treatment patterns and economic burden in US patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) versus without chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Determine comparative costs of subgroups with high clinical burden. STUDY DESIGN: Observational, retrospective, case-control study. METHODS: This study matched patients with CRSwNP to patients without CRS (1:1) using the Truven Health MarketScan US claims database. Categorical and continuous variables were compared using McNemar test and paired t test (normal distribution) or Wilcoxon signed rank tests (non-normal distribution). Within subgroups, χ2 and Wilcoxon or t tests were used (normal distribution). RESULTS: There were 10,841 patients with CRSwNP and 10,841 patients without CRS included. Mean age in the CRSwNP cohort was 45.8 years; 56.2% were male. During follow-up, patients with CRSwNP had an increased diagnosis of asthma versus patients without CRS (20.8% vs. 8.1%, respectively; P < .001). Annual incremental costs were $11,507 higher for patients with CRSwNP versus those without CRS. Costs were higher in subgroups of patients with CRSwNP undergoing functional endoscopy sinus surgery (FESS), with a comorbid diagnosis of asthma, receiving oral corticosteroids, or macrolides versus the overall CRSwNP group. Patients with CRSwNP undergoing FESS had the highest costs of the four subgroups ($26,724, $22,456, $20,695, and $20,990, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Annual incremental costs were higher among patients with CRSwNP versus without CRS. Patients with CRSwNP with high clinical burden had higher overall costs than CRSwNP patients without. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 129:1969-1975, 2019.

Nasal Endoscopy Billing Patterns: A Survey of the American Rhinologic Society.

Introduction Nasal endoscopy (NE) is an essential element of office-based clinical rhinology, including the evaluation of chronic rhinosinusitis. Despite the presence of guidelines, variability exists regarding coding and billing for NE especially with regard to inclusion of evaluation and management (E&M) codes and use of the 25 modifier. The goal of this survey was to assess the billing patterns for NE among American Rhinologic Society (ARS) members. Methods An invitation to participate in a web-based survey was electronically sent to all ARS members. Survey participants were queried regarding demographics and billing patterns for NE in several different clinical scenarios using a 5-point Likert-type scale, with a score of 5 representing "always" and a score of 1 representing "never" for billing E&M. Results A total of 93 respondents successfully completed the survey with a range of the number of years since completing training, practice type (50.5% private, 44.1% academic) and completion of a rhinology fellowship (40.9%). Variable responses for billing patterns for distinct clinical scenarios were noted. Higher scores for billing both E&M and NE for the queried clinical scenarios were noted for new patients (mean 4.50) compared to established patients (mean 3.81) and postoperative patients (mean 3.04). Inclusion of a septoplasty as part of the surgery impacted billing an E&M code 28% of the time. Practice type and history of performing a fellowship did not significantly influence billing patterns for NE. Conclusions Significant variability exists among ARS respondents with regard to billing patterns for NE, despite the presence of coding guidelines. Additional teaching of standard coding practices for NE may limit variability among otolaryngologists.

What drives productivity loss in chronic rhinosinusitis? A SNOT-22 subdomain analysis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Previous studies have shown declines in productivity due to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are correlated with disease-specific quality-of-life (QOL) measures. However, it is unclear which symptom domains contribute primarily to productivity loss. This investigation sought to assess the association between CRS-specific QOL subdomain impairment and productivity loss. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, multi-institutional, observational cohort study. METHODS: There were 198 patients with refractory CRS enrolled between August 2012 and June 2015. Baseline QOL measures were obtained across five subdomains of the 22-item SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). Lost productivity time was determined from patient-reported measures of annual absenteeism, presenteeism, and lost leisure time, and then monetized using annual daily wage rates from the 2012 US National Census and 2013 Department of Labor statistics. RESULTS: Productivity losses correlated with impairments in both SNOT-22 psychological dysfunction (Spearman correlation coefficient [Rs] = 0.428, P < .001), and sleep dysfunction domain scores (Rs = 0.355, P < .001). Higher SNOT-22 total scores also significantly correlated with increased monetized productivity losses (Rs = 0.366, P < .001). The mean annual productivity cost was $11,820/patient, whereas patients with comorbid immunodeficiency ($23,285/patient), tobacco use ($23,195/patient), and steroid dependency ($18,910/patient) reported higher than average annual productivity costs. Multivariate linear regression found maximum annual productivity costs in adjusted psychological ($13,300/patient, P < .001) and sleep dysfunction ($9,275/patient, P < .001) domains. CONCLUSIONS: Impairments in sleep and psychological SNOT-22 domains correlate with productivity losses. Patients with comorbid immunodeficiency, smoking, and steroid dependency had higher than average productivity losses. Targeted management of psychological and sleep dysfunction in combination with standard symptom control may improve patient-centered care and reduce the annual economic burden of CRS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2c. Laryngoscope, 128:23-30, 2018.

Emergency department use for acute rhinosinusitis: Insurance dependent for children and adults.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Patients with Medicaid or self-pay insurance status are more likely to present to the emergency department (ED) for uncomplicated acute rhinosinusitis (ARS). Our aim was to determine if this pattern holds true for both pediatric and adult visits. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using the 2005 to 2012 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys and National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys. METHODS: We included all visits with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for ARS and without codes for ARS complications. We tested for associations between insurance type and presentation to an ED versus a primary care physician (PCP), stratifying children versus adults. We used univariate and multivariable logistic regression modeling, controlling for clinical and demographic characteristics for analysis. RESULTS: There were 51,579,977 uncomplicated ARS visits to PCPs (48,213,335 visits) and EDs (3,366,642 visits). Medicaid and uninsured patients were under-represented for ARS visits. Medicaid insurance was significantly associated with ED presentation for ARS for both children (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 7.0, P < 0.001) and adults (adjusted OR = 6.8, P < 0.001). Children with ARS and self-pay insurance status were much more likely to present to the ED (adjusted OR = 48.8, P < 0.001) than adults (adjusted OR = 5.2, P < 0.001); this difference between children and adults with self-pay insurance was significant (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: With respect to absolute numbers of visits, patients with Medicaid or no insurance use less care overall for uncomplicated ARS than do privately insured patients. Medicaid is associated with ED presentation for ARS for pediatric and adult visits. Self-pay insurance status is strongly associated with ED presentation for adult and pediatric visits, and is significantly more common for children. These results suggest limitations in primary care access for uncomplicated ARS based on insurance status, particularly for uninsured pediatric patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. Laryngoscope, 128:299-303, 2018.

The impact of asthma on the cost effectiveness of surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of asthma on the cost-effectiveness profile of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) compared to medical therapy for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). METHODS: The study design consisted of a cohort-style Markov decision-tree cost utility analysis with a 35-year time horizon. Matched cohorts of CRSwNP patients with (n = 95) and without (n = 95) asthma who underwent ESS were compared with cohorts of patients from the national Medical Expenditures Survey Panel (MEPS) database who underwent medical management for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Baseline, 1-year, and 2-year health utility values were calculated from responses to the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) instrument in both cohorts. The primary outcome measure was the incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) for each cohort. RESULTS: The reference cases for CRSwNP patients with and without asthma yielded ICERs for ESS vs medical therapy alone of $12,066 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) and $7,369 per QALY, respectively. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000/QALY, the ICER scatter plots demonstrated 86% and 99% certainty that the ESS strategy was the most cost-effective option for CRSwNP patients with and without asthma, respectively. ESS was not significantly more cost effective for CRSwNP patients without asthma (p = 0.494). CONCLUSION: ESS remains cost effective compared to medical therapy for patients both with and without asthma. While the comorbidity of asthma results in an inferior ICER result, it does not result in a statistically significant negative impact on the overall cost effectiveness of ESS.

Economics of Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The objective of this article is to provide an updated review of the economic burden of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and discuss how both medical and surgical interventions impact direct and indirect costs related to CRS. By understanding the economics of CRS, clinicians may improve the patient-centeredness of their care and help distinguish between low and high value interventions. RECENT FINDINGS: Direct costs related to CRS are primarily driven by outpatient physician visits, prescription medical therapy, and endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). CRS produces large indirect costs and these costs often vary based on the severity of the patients CRS-specific QoL impairment. The overall direct cost related to CRS is estimated to range between $10 and $13 billion per year in the USA. The overall indirect cost related to CRS-related losses in work productivity is estimated to be in excess of $20 billion per year. In the appropriate patients with refractory CRS, ESS provides significant reductions in both direct and indirect costs; however, continued medical therapy alone may be a high value intervention in select patients who have lower severity in their baseline QoL and work productivity.

Evaluation of a steroid releasing sinus implant for the treatment of patients undergoing frontal sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis.

INTRODUCTION: Management of the frontal sinus places great demands on the otolaryngologist. Given that the fronto-ethmoidal region is susceptible to recurrent inflammation, scarring, and stenosis, maintaining long-term patency of the frontal sinus is a difficult challenge. Oral and topical anti-inflammatory therapy, post-operative stenting, and 'home-brew' drug elution have been used for the treatment of the frontal sinus with mixed success. Recently an implant has been approved for post-operative placement into the frontal recess. This implant provides reliable and consistent steroid drug elution to address inflammation of the frontal recess secondary to chronic sinusitis. Areas covered: This review discusses the development and application of steroid eluting implants in the postoperative care of patients with chronic frontal sinusitis. All randomized controlled trials evaluating steroid eluting implants are discussed. Relevant supporting material discussing background, economics, safety are included. Expert commentary: Steroid eluting implants fulfill a unique niche in the treatment following frontal sinus surgery. They are shown to decrease the need for post-operative interventions and improve outcomes in patients with chronic sinusitis. There is significant potential for growth in the use of steroid eluting implants.

Endoscopic sinus surgery in adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (PolypESS): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is a chronic disease frequently seen in otorhinolaryngological practice. Along with its chronic disease burden it creates high societal costs. Therapy consists of long-term use of medication and, if insufficient, endoscopic sinus surgery. No consensus exists on the right timing and extent of disease that warrants surgery. Furthermore, there is lack of clinical knowledge about the benefit of surgery over medication only. The current trial evaluates the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of endoscopic sinus surgery in addition to drug treatment versus medication exclusively in the adult patient group with nasal polyps. METHODS: A prospective, multicentre, superiority, randomised controlled (PolypESS) trial in 238 patients aged 18 years or older selected for primary or revision endoscopic sinus surgery by the otorhinolaryngologist was designed. Patients will be randomised to either endoscopic sinus surgery in addition to medication or medical therapy only. Relevant data will be collected prior to randomisation, at baseline and 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after start of treatment. Complete follow-up will be 24 months. Primary outcome is disease-specific Health-related Quality of Life quantified by the SNOT-22 after 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes are generic Health-related Quality of Life, cost-effectiveness, objective signs of disease and adverse effects of treatment. Subgroup analyses will be performed to verify whether treatment effects differ among patient phenotypes. DISCUSSION: The PolypESS trial will investigate tailored care in adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and will result in improved clinical pathways to help to determine in which circumstances to perform surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Register, NTR4978 . Registered on 27 November 2014.

Association of olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis with economic productivity and medication usage.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has significant impacts upon productivity, economic metrics, and medication usage; however, factors that are associated with these economic outcomes are unknown. METHODS: We evaluated olfactory dysfunction in 221 patients with CRS using the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-Negative Statements (QOD-NS) and the 40-item Smell Identification Test (SIT) and assessed whether an association existed between these olfactory metrics and healthcare utilization, productivity, and medication usage over the preceding 90 days. RESULTS: After adjusting for CRS-associated comorbidities, objective measures of disease, demographics, and CRS-specific quality of life (QOL), patients with lower QOD-NS scores (worse patient-reported olfaction) had more missed days of normal productivity and employment, worse productivity levels, more hours of missed employment due to physician visits, more time caring for sinuses, greater distance traveled to medical appointment, more days of oral steroid use, and higher odds of being on disability insurance. Clinical olfaction, as measured by SIT, was associated with greater distance traveled to medical appointment and higher odds of being on disability insurance, but did not correlate with other productivity measures. CONCLUSION: Impaired olfactory-specific QOL is associated with significantly worse economic and productivity metrics and increased medication usage even after adjusting for CRS-specific comorbidities, objective measures of disease, demographics, and severity of CRS-specific QOL. Future studies are warranted to determine if targeting the impaired olfactory-specific QOL noted in patients with CRS results in improved productivity and economic outcomes.

Medical therapy, refractory chronic rhinosinusitis, and productivity costs.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to address the most recent advances in the medical therapy for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), define recalcitrant and refractory CRS, and discuss the productivity costs associated with CRS. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies evaluating anti-IL-4 receptor α antibodies and calcium channel blockers have demonstrated promising early results during management of CRS. Recent appropriateness criteria have been developed to assist clinicians with defining which patients have 'refractory' CRS and may be considered candidates for endoscopic sinus surgery. Productivity costs appear to be associated with disease severity and can be reduced with appropriate interventions. SUMMARY: Topical corticosteroid therapy and high volume saline irrigation continue to be the cornerstone to medical therapy, whereas use of systemic corticosteroids and antibiotics depends on CRS phenotype and presence of acute exacerbation. More research is needed before routine use of novel immunomodulatory therapies such as anti-IL5, anti-IgE, anti-IL4, and calcium channel blockers. Clinicians should apply an appropriate definition for refractory CRS when discussing role of sinus surgery. Assessing the degree of work productivity impairment can assist in treatment decision-making and may help predict treatment outcomes.

Balloon dilation of sinus ostia in the Department of Defense: Diagnoses, actual indications, and outcomes.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To determine the primary diagnoses for which balloon catheter dilation (BCD) of sinus ostia is being employed in a profit-blind health care system, the Department of Defense. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: From January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013, 319 consecutive patient charts were reviewed for International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition (ICD-9) diagnoses, presence of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) defined by the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EPOS), preoperative Lund-Mackay scores, nasal endoscopy findings, sinuses dilated, postoperative outcomes, and complications. RESULTS: Of the 319 patients identified, 217 had sufficient documentation to be included. A CRS ICD-9 code was applied in 182 of 217 (83.9%) and recurrent acute rhinosinusitis in 12 of 217 (5.6%). Only 50.5% of CRS patient charts met criteria using EPOS guidelines. In contrast, 39.6% met the ICD-9 criteria for atypical facial pain. Patients with Lund-Mackay scores ≤ 4 were reviewed for number of sinuses dilated. Eighty-eight of 123 patients (71.5%) had sinuses dilated that were free from opacification/mucosal edema on preoperative imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Balloon dilation of sinus ostia has an expanding role in treating sinus disease. In the studied population, BCD is often utilized for alternate indications for which there is currently no evidence of efficacy. Future studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of this technology in treating these alternate indications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. Laryngoscope, 127:544-549, 2017.