Rhinosinusitis Symptoms Improve Every Year Following Smoking Cessation

Each year following smoking cessation was associated with improvements in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) symptoms, according to a recent study.  

The cross-sectional study included 103 former-smoker patients with CRS and 103 nonsmoker patients with CRS. Sinonasal symptom severity was measured using the Sinonasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-22), and general health-related quality of life was measured using the EuroQol visual analog scale (EQ-5D VAS). In addition, patients reported CRS-related antibiotic and oral corticosteroid use within the past year.
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Former smokers had worse SNOT-22 scores and EQ-5D VAS scores, and reported more CRS-related antibiotic and corticosteroid use within the past year compared with nonsmokers. However, each year after smoking was associated with a statistically significant improvement in SNOT-22 scores, EQ-5D VAS scores, and CRS-related oral corticosteroid use. Based on these improvements, the researchers estimated that the reversible impact of smoking on CRS may be resolved after 10 to 20 years.

“CRS patients who are former smokers have worse sinonasal symptomatology, [quality of life], and CRS-related medication usage than nonsmokers,” the researchers concluded. “Every year since cessation of smoking is associated improvements in sinonasal symptomatology, [quality of life], and CRS-related oral corticosteroid use, potentially reaching nonsmoker levels after 10 to 20 years.”

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Phillips KM, Hoehle L, Bergmark RW, er al. Reversal of smoking effects on chronic rhinosinusitis after smoking cessation [published before print online July 12, 2017]. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599817717960.