Chronic rhinosinusitis patients with polyps or polypoid mucosa have a greater burden of illness

Background: Recent studies suggest chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP) and CRS with nasal polyposis (CRScNP) represent distinct pathological entities. The aim of this study was to determine whether patients with CRSsNP, CRScNP, and polypoid CRS could be distinguished by clinical features, radiologic extent of disease or use of medications. Methods: New patients with CRS (n = 126) were enrolled in a prospective outcomes study. Rhinoscopic evaluation was used to classify patients. The relationship between disease phenotype and clinical parameters was examined. Results: Facial pain/pressure/headache was more prevalent in CRSsNP than CRScNP (p = 0.01). Nasal obstruction and hyposmia/anosmia were more prevalent in CRScNP than CRSsNP (p = 0.025 and 0.01, respectively). Intermediate symptom prevalence was found in polypoid CRS. Multivariate analysis confirmed that prior surgery, CT scan score, and male gender were independent predictors of polyp/polypoid phenotype. Allergic status was unrelated to CRS classification. Medication use was higher in CRScNP patients than in CRSsNP patients. Conclusion: Compared with CRSsNP, patients with CRScNP have a greater burden of symptoms, more prior surgery, higher CT scan scores, and greater use of medications.