This is an interesting article from the Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan. One-hundred-and-thirty-nine patients were enrolled into this five-year study. They all had chronic rhinosinusitis with or without polyposis and underwent sinus surgery. The aim was to investigate a correlation between sinus symptom severity and sleep disordered breathing. All patients have been well studied, they all had a Chinese version of the SNOT 20, smell tests, acoustic rhinometry, CT graded by the Lund-Mackay score, endoscopic grading, Chinese version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale a formal polysomnograph before surgery. Groups were compared with or without nasal polyps. Thirty-eight percent had an ESS above 10 and 65% were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. Patients with poor sleep quality had a significantly higher SNOT 20 and NOSE score, although this was not reflected in their endoscopic or CT scores. Sleep quality was found to be similar in both polyp and non-polyp groups. This study would seem to add weight to the theory that patients with chronic rhinosinusitis do have a higher incidence of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, probably due to increased upper airway resistance.
Chronic rhinosinusitis and sleep
Reviewed by Suki Ahluwalia
The impact of chronic rhinosinusitis on sleep-disordered breathing.
CONTRIBUTOR
Suki Ahluwalia
Cairns Hospital / James Cook University, Queensland, Australia.
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