Association between Asthma and Chronic Rhinosinusitis Severity in the Context of Asthma Control

Objective Comorbid asthma is associated with decreased quality of life (QOL) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). It is unclear whether this association is independent of the patients' clinical asthma status. We therefore sought to determine if asthma is associated with lower QOL in CRS, independent of asthma control. Study Design Cross-sectional cohort study of 350 patients with CRS. Setting Tertiary academic rhinology clinic. Subjects and Methods In total, 350 participants with CRS were recruited and 28.3% were asthmatic. CRS-specific QOL was measured using the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). Asthma control was assessed with the Asthma Control Test (ACT). General health-related QOL was assessed with the EuroQoL 5-dimensional general health-related quality of life survey visual analog scale (EQ-5D VAS). Associations were sought between SNOT-22 and EQ-5D VAS (dependent variables) and asthma (independent variable), while controlling for ACT. ACT score for patients with CRS without asthma was set at 25 (indicating completely controlled, asymptomatic asthma). Results Comorbid asthma was associated with SNOT-22 (β = 11.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.2-17.3; P < .001) and EQ-5D VAS (β = -6.2; 95% CI, -11.2 to -1.3; P = .014). After controlling for ACT, asthma was no longer associated with SNOT-22 ( P = .147) or EQ-5D VAS ( P = .994). Instead, ACT score was associated with SNOT-22 (β = -2.1; 95% CI, -3.2 to -1.1; P < .001) and EQ-5D VAS (β = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1 to 3.0; P < .001). ACT score completely drove the association between asthma and worse QOL. Conclusion Comorbid asthma is not necessarily reflective of decreased QOL in CRS. The association of comorbid asthma with lower QOL in CRS is related to the clinical status (eg, control) of asthma.