Race and ethnicity define disparate clinical outcomes in chronic rhinosinusitis

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common upper airways inflammatory disease requiring multidisciplinary care.

To evaluate if African Americans (AA), Latinxs, and nonLatinx White (White) patients have different chronic rhinosinusitis outcomes and to identify associated factors impacting these outcomes.

We conducted a large prospective cohort study of CRS patients who were evaluated and followed for several clinical variables at the initial encounter and after continuous management of CRS for a mean of 40 months. The Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Lund-MacKay scores were measured on initial visits, and SNOT-22 was repeated at the end of follow-up. Logistic regression was used to compare outcomes between the different groups adjusted for comorbidities and demographics.

Among the 977 enrolled CRS cases, 615 (63.0%), 235 (24.1%) and 138 (13.0%) were White, AA and Latinx respectively. There was no difference in severity of CRS based on Lund-MacKay scores and SNOT-22 scores, and frequency of other comorbidities at presentation among the 3 groups. During the follow-up period, compared with Whites, AA and Latinx were less frequently evaluated by an allergist. AAs had less frequent CRS related visits and lower final SNOT-22 score compared with Whites.

Although our enrolled patients from the 3 ethnic groups had similar clinical characteristics and disease burden at baseline, AAs had less frequent follow-up visits and worse final SNOT-22 after 40 months of follow-up. The observed poorer outcomes in AAs are likely owing to inequity in healthcare access evidenced by differences in insurance and suboptimal management of CRS.