Factors Impacting Follow-Up Care in Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis

The purpose of this study was to analyze barriers to medical care and follow-up in patients with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS).

Cross-sectional questionnaire-based study with retrospective chart review.

Tertiary Medical Center.

Subjects with AFRS and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) were prospectively recruited for completion of the Barriers to Care Questionnaire (BCQ) and formal chart review.

Fifty-nine AFRS and 51 CRSwNP patients participated. AFRS patients were more likely to be lost to follow-up within 6 months of surgery (35.6% vs 17.7%, P = 0.04) and no-show at least 1 appointment (20.3% vs 5.9%, P = 0.03) compared to CRSwNP patients. Men with AFRS were more likely to have only a single follow-up visit (37.0% vs 3.1%, P < 0.001) and be lost to follow-up (66.7% vs 9.4%, P < 0.001) than women. There were no significant differences in the BCQ between groups; however, rate of questionnaire completion was lower in the AFRS group than the CRS group (62.7% vs 80.4%, P = 0.042). AFRS patients who did not complete the BCQ were more likely to be male (63.6% vs 35.1%, P = 0.034), lost to follow-up (77.3% vs 10.8%, P < 0.0001), and have a single follow-up visit (40.9% vs 5.4%, P < 0.0001). Younger age was associated with increased likelihood of having a single follow-up visit (odds ratio 1.143, 95% CI 1.022-1.276).

Young, male AFRS patients are more frequently lost to follow-up after surgery and less likely to complete questionnaires assessing barriers to care. Further investigation is needed to assess barriers to follow-up in these at-risk groups.