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Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), as an inflammatory airway disease, could be a risk factor for COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and severity of symptoms of COVID-19 in patients with CRS and to assess the association between the status of CRS symptoms and the quality of life (QoL) of the patients., Methods: In this observational and cross-sectional study, 207 adult CRS patients participated. The patients, who presented the symptoms of COVID-19, were examined by taking the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test. A questionnaire was completed by each patient, regarding their demographic and clinical data. In addition, the GA 2 LEN and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) standard questionnaires were used to identify the comorbid allergic condition and QoL of CRS patients., Results: The frequency of patients with COVID-19 was 25 (12.1%) of which 22 were treated as outpatients, 2 of them admitted in wards and 1 at intensive care unit. The severity of hyposmia in the patients was 2 (8%) as mild, 5 (20%) moderate, and 11 (72%) as anosmia. The most common allergic and underlying comorbid diseases were allergic rhinitis (88%) and thyroid disorders (28%). Further, the average SNOT-22 score in 4 SNOT-22 domains (nasal, otologic, sleep, and emotional symptoms) was significantly decreased in CRS patients after a period of one year since the pandemic started (40.1 ± 18.0 vs. 46.3 ± 17.7; P < .0001)., Discussion: This study showed a low frequency of COVID-19 in patients with CRS and about the same rate of infection positivity in the general population; therefore, we concluded that CRS could not be considered as a risk factor for COVID-19. Interestingly, the lower average score of SNOT-22 after one year of the pandemic in the patients with CRS confirmed the necessity for performing the standard health protocols by the patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a prevalent disease affecting the quality of life of patients throughout the world. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of AR and its association with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in the adult population living in Bushehr, southwestern part of Iran. In this population-based study, a total of 5420  individuals aged 15-65 years were selected through a multi-stage, cluster, random sampling method from which 5201 of them completed the Global Allergy and Asthma Network of Excellence (GA2LEN) questionnaire (Response rate=96.1%). The prevalence of AR, based on Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) classification (mild or moderate; intermittent or persistent) was calculated and the association of AR and CRS was evaluated using a multiple logistic regression model. The overall prevalence of AR was 28.8%, and for the intermittent and persistent AR were 25.9% (out of which 81.34% were moderate to severe) and 74.1% respectively. Moreover, the prevalence of AR was significantly higher in health workers and smokers (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). Furthermore, an association was found between AR and CRS (p<0.001, aOR: 4.68, 95%CI: 4.07-5.39), and also, between the persistent AR and CRS as compared with the intermittent (p<0.001, aOR: 4.21, 95%CI: 3.40-5.22). The present study showed that the prevalence of AR in Bushehr (Southwestern part of Iran) was significantly high. In addition, the results indicated a strong association between AR and CRS, especially in individuals with moderate to severe persistent AR.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), as an inflammatory airway disease, could be a risk factor for COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and severity of symptoms of COVID-19 in patients with CRS and to assess the association between the status of CRS symptoms and the quality of life (QoL) of the patients. Methods: In this observational and cross-sectional study, 207 adult CRS patients participated. The patients, who presented the symptoms of COVID-19, were examined by taking the reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction test. A questionnaire was completed by each patient, regarding their demographic and clinical data. In addition, the GA2LEN and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) standard questionnaires were used to identify the comorbid allergic condition and QoL of CRS patients. Results: The frequency of patients with COVID-19 was 25 (12.1%) of which 22 were treated as outpatients, 2 of them admitted in wards and 1 at intensive care unit. The severity of hyposmia in the patients was 2 (8%) as mild, 5 (20%) moderate, and 11 (72%) as anosmia. The most common allergic and underlying comorbid diseases were allergic rhinitis (88%) and thyroid disorders (28%). Further, the average SNOT-22 score in 4 SNOT-22 domains (nasal, otologic, sleep, and emotional symptoms) was significantly decreased in CRS patients after a period of one year since the pandemic started (40.1 ± 18.0 vs. 46.3 ± 17.7; P <.0001). Discussion: This study showed a low frequency of COVID-19 in patients with CRS and about the same rate of infection positivity in the general population; therefore, we concluded that CRS could not be considered as a risk factor for COVID-19. Interestingly, the lower average score of SNOT-22 after one year of the pandemic in the patients with CRS confirmed the necessity for performing the standard health protocols by the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asthma is recognized as a major public health concern in the world. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the prevalence of asthma by using the Global Allergy and Asthma Network of Excellence (GA2LEN) questionnaire and examine its association with chronic rhinosinusitis, in the province of Bushehr, Southwestern of Iran. Methods: In a cross-sectional, population-based study, a total of 5420 invited individuals, aged 15–65, were selected through a multi-stage, stratified, cluster random sampling and from which 5201 completed the GA2LEN questionnaire (response rate = 95.9%). The prevalence of asthma, current, and physician-diagnosed asthma were analyzed by using sex and age groups and the association of asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) was investigated using a multiple logistic regression model. Results: Based on the information from the GA2LEN questionnaire, the overall prevalence of asthma in the population under study was 10.0% (95% CI 9.2–10.8). Moreover, the prevalence of current asthma was 8.9% (95% CI 8.1–9.7). Further, the prevalence of current early, late-onset and physician-diagnosed asthma within the asthma group was 51.1% (95% CI 46.5–55.7), 48.9% (95% CI 44.3–53.5) and 3.9% (95% CI 2.1–2.5), respectively. Additionally, CRS was more frequent among the participants with asthma [(57.3%, OR = 2.3; 95% CI 2.1–2.5)], and there was a significant association between CRS and current, early and late-onset of asthma (P < 0.001; OR = 4.4, 3.2 and 6, respectively). Conclusion: This large population study conducted in the southwestern part of Iran suggests that the prevalence of asthma is high. Moreover, the result of this study showed a strong association of asthma with CRS; also after adjusting for sex, age, educational level, and smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]