Eustachian tube dysfunction symptoms in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

OBJECTIVES: While Eustachian tube dysfunction is a known comorbidity of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, the prevalence of Eustachian tube dysfunction symptoms in this population is poorly understood. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patient-reported sino-nasal (Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22) and ear (Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire 7) symptoms with type-2 markers (peripheral blood eosinophils and total immunoglobulin E, Nasal Polyp Score and Lund-Mackay Score on computed tomography in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (study group) and non-chronic rhinosinusitis patients (control group). The control group were patients presenting with symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis and Eustachian tube dysfunction with normal endoscopy and computed tomography sinus scan. RESULTS: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps patients were significantly older, had a higher proportion of males and higher levels of type-2 markers. There was no significant difference in Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire 7 and the proportion of patients with Eustachian tube dysfunction between the groups. Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22, Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 5 and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 ear domain correlated significantly with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire 7 in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps patients. CONCLUSION: The clinical relevance of the Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire 7 in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is rather debatable as our findings reveal the presence of elevated scores not only in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps but also in the control group.