The Relation between Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) and Sleep Disordered Breathing

Abstract

C hronic sinusitis is one of the most prevalent chronic illnesses, affecting persons of all age groups. It is an inflammatory process that involves the paranasal sinuses and persists for 12 weeks or longer. It is almost always accompanied by concurrent nasal airway inflammation and is often preceded by rhinitis symptoms; thus, the term chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has evolved to more accurately describe this condition. CRS may manifest as one of three major clinical syndromes: CRS without nasal polyps, CRS with nasal polyps, or allergic fungal rhinosinusitis. These classifications possess a great deal of therapeutic significance. Patients with symptomatic CRS have a high prevalence of sleep pathology. The relationship between sleep dysfunction and quality of life (QOL) in CRS is likely bidirectional, whereby disability predicts worse sleep which may influence QOL.