Prevalence and characterization of chronic rhinosinusitis in patients with non‒cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis at a tertiary care center in the United States

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is associated with bronchiectasis; however, this relationship has not been well studied in the United States (US) population. In this work we aimed to determine the prevalence of CRS among patients with bronchiectasis affiliated with a US tertiary medical center and identify which comorbid diseases are associated with the presence of CRS in patients with bronchiectasis. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study in which data were obtained from a large database warehouse at a tertiary care center. Patients with bronchiectasis were identified from 2007 to 2017 using diagnosis codes from the the ninth and tenth revisions of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9/10) and confirmed by radiographic evidence of bronchiectasis on chest computed tomography (CT) scans. Patients were divided into cohorts based on presence or absence of concomitant CRS. Characteristics analyzed included demographics, comorbidities, peripheral eosinophil counts, and pulmonary function testing. Results: CRS was present in 45% (408 of 900) of patients with bronchiectasis. Females represented a majority of bronchiectasis patients, both with and without CRS (69% and 64%, respectively, p = 0.09). After controlling for demographic factors, asthma (p < 0.01), allergic rhinitis (p < 0.01), gastroesophageal reflux disease (p < 0.01), and antibody deficiency (p < 0.01) were associated with the presence of CRS in patients with bronchiectasis. Conclusion: CRS had a high prevalence and was associated with numerous comorbid conditions in patients with bronchiectasis. These findings have clinical implications for the treatment of patients with bronchiectasis and future research.