A third of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps exhibit anxiety symptoms

A study published in the Journal of Inflammation Research has found that a significant number of patients with severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) experience anxiety symptoms. Dr. Pei-Wen Wu and colleagues from Chang Gung University in Taoyuan, Taiwan, investigated the relationship between severe CRSwNP and anxiety or depression in 96 adults undergoing sinus surgery and 40 healthy controls.

The research revealed that Beck Anxiety Inventory scores were notably higher in patients with CRSwNP compared to controls, while no significant difference was observed in Beck Depression Inventory-II scores.

Approximately 32.3% of patients with CRSwNP exhibited possible anxiety, defined as a BAI score of 7 or higher. Univariate logistic regression analysis identified comorbid asthma, Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) score, and blood eosinophil percentage as significant factors associated with anxiety. However, in multivariate analysis, only comorbid asthma and SNOT-22 remained statistically significant.

The study suggests that a SNOT-22 score of 57 or higher could serve as an optimal cutoff value for identifying patients at higher risk of experiencing anxiety.

The researchers emphasize the importance of screening for psychological symptoms and integrating psychological assessments and interventions into the care of high-risk patients with severe CRSwNP.