The Cooperative Outcomes Group for ENT: A multicenter prospective cohort study on the effectiveness of medical and surgical treatment for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess outcomes for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective, multicenter study; 31 otolaryngologists enrolled 276 adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis; patients completed surveys at 3-month intervals, and physicians provided clinical and treatment data. The primary outcome measure was the Chronic Sinusitis Survey-Duration (CSS-D). RESULTS: One hundred seventeen adult patients completed 12-month follow-up. Most patients reported sinus symptoms lasting longer than 3 years (74%). Patients showed significant improvement (group P < 0.0001) in the CSS-D score at each follow-up interval. Baseline CSS-D (P < 0.0001), surgical intervention (P < 0.003), and Lund-McKay score (P < 0.04) were predictive of clinical success in regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients referred to an otolaryngologist have a severe sinus illness. Treatment by an otolaryngologist was associated with significant improvement in sinus-related symptoms. SIGNIFICANCE: The study demonstrated the feasibility of multicenter outcome studies in chronic rhinosinusitis and generated testable hypotheses for future investigation. EBM rating: C.