The relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis and metabolic syndrome

Background: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between metabolic syndrome and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), with related risk factors for CRS according to data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Methods: The KNHANES surveyed individuals >19 years of age from January 2010 to December 2011. CRS encompassed "symptom-based CRS" as defined by the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2012. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the American Heart Association/National Heart Lung and Blood Institute criteria. A chi(2) analysis, univariate analysis, and multivariate analysis were conducted. Results: A total of 12,015 individuals were analyzed in this study. The prevalence of CRS in the patients with metabolic syndrome (high triglyceride level, reduced high-density lipoprotein level, and elevated blood pressure) was significantly higher than that in patients without metabolic syndrome (14.15 versus 10.16%) (p < 0.05). Allergic rhinitis was the only significant risk factor for CRS found to be associated with metabolic syndrome (p < 0.05). Conclusion: CRS was more prevalent in patients with metabolic syndrome, especially those with allergic rhinitis, than in patients without metabolic syndrome. Accordingly, CRS should be considered in patients with metabolic syndrome and allergic rhinitis.