Prevalence of Potential Adult Chronic Rhinosinusitis Symptoms in the United States

Objective To determine the prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis-related symptoms in the United States. Study Design Cross-sectional analysis of a national database. Setting Representative sampling of the US adult population. Subjects and Methods The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data set, taste and smell supplement 2013-2014 was analyzed for sinonasal question responses regarding discolored nasal mucus, nasal blockage, sinus pain, and dysosmia. The individual prevalences as well as the prevalence of 2 or more of these symptoms (which would be compatible with a diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis) were determined for the US population. Results After excluding adults with an intercurrent head cold, 113.5 million adults (mean age 58.2 years; 52.6% female) were analyzed. Individual symptom prevalences were dysosmia (9.17 million, 8.1%), nasal blockage (6.9 million, 6.0%), sinus pain (2.37 million, 2.1%), and discolored mucous (1.28 million, 1.1%). Overall, 14.8 million (13.0%) adults had exactly 1 sinonasal symptom, and 2.37 million adults (2.1%) responded with 2 or more cardinal symptoms for chronic rhinosinusitis. With respect to sex, 1.9% of males reported 2 or more symptoms compatible with chronic rhinosinusitis vs 2.2% of females (P = .690), which is not statistically significant. Conclusion Of US adults, 2.1% meet symptom criteria for the potential diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis at any given time. Further objective corroboration with a physical exam and determination of duration of symptoms would be required to determine the true prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis, but this point prevalence represents the potential population at risk for chronic rhinosinusitis in the United States.