The health and resource utilization of Canadians with chronic rhinosinusitis

Objectives: To determine the impact of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) on the physical and mental health and health‐resource utilization of Canadians. Study Design: Cross‐sectional. Methods: Data from the detailed health portion of cycle 3 (1998–1999) of the National Population Health Survey (NPHS), which involved 17,000 Canadians, were used to evaluate Canadians with self‐reported CRS. Results: NPHS data confirmed lower mental and physical health, with CRS sufferers being almost three times more likely to report their health as poor (4.6% vs. 1.7%). Health Utility Index data identified a significant decline in the mental health of patients with CRS, which was associated with more depression (8.4% vs. 4.1%), more antidepressant use (9.1% vs. 4.6%), and more visits to mental‐health professionals (11.8% vs. 7.0%). Conclusions: CRS significantly affects both physical and mental health. The mental impact of CRS remains largely unrecognized and should be of greater focus during patient care and in further research. Laryngoscope, 119:184–189, 2009