Clinical predictors of chronic rhinosinusitis.
BACKGROUND
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is diagnosed by the presence of signs and symptoms of CRS in conjunction with physical evidence of mucosal inflammation. We sought to identify symptoms that predict CRS.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective review of patients referred to a tertiary care rhinology clinic for evaluation of CRS. Symptom survey data and diagnoses were reviewed.


RESULTS
Of 187 patients who met inclusion criteria, 112 (60%) were diagnosed with CRS and 75 (40%) were not. Chronic purulent rhinorrhea (odds ratio [OR], 2.2) and hyposmia (OR, 2.3) individually and in combination (OR, 3.8) were significant predictors of CRS. The major criteria of the 1997 Task Force in Rhinology (TFR) also predicted CRS (OR, 1.9) but the minor criteria did not (OR, 0.3).


CONCLUSIONS
In this preliminary study, purulent rhinorrhea and hyposmia are strong predictors of CRS. The major criteria of the TFR also predict CRS but the minor criteria do not.
Pynnonen
Melissa
M
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. pynnonen@umich.edu
Fowler
Karen
K
Terrell
Jeffrey E
JE
D002908:Chronic Disease; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed