Kristina A. Storck

Impact of vitamin D deficiency upon clinical presentation in nasal polyposis

The objective of this work was to determine if specific chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) populations are at risk for vitamin D3 (VD3) deficiency and if VD3 levels correlate with radiographic measures of disease severity or eosinophilia.

Cognitive function in chronic rhinosinusitis: a controlled clinical study

Cognitive dysfunction in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has previously received little attention. Cognitive data generally includes only subjective measures and lack appropriate controls when cognition is considered. The purpose of this study was to characterize dimensions of cognitive function that are affected in patients with CRS compared to a control sample using subjective and objective measures of cognitive function.

Depression in chronic rhinosinusitis: A controlled cohort study.

Background Depression in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is underdiagnosed but significantly impacts treatment outcomes and health care utilization. Objective To compare undiagnosed depression in a CRS cohort with a healthy, non-CRS control cohort. Methods A case-control study of patients with symptomatic CRS and a non-CRS control cohort was performed. Demographic and comorbidity factors were correlated to depression-specific outcomes by using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI). Results We enrolled 42 patients with CRS and 88 control patients with no history of CRS. Physician-diagnosed depression was equivalent in CRS and control patients (6% and 9%, respectively). BDI-detected depression was higher among patients with CRS compared with controls (31% versus 14.8%, respectively; p = 0.031). BDI scores were higher in patients with CRS even when controlling for comorbid asthma, allergy, and aspirin sensitivity. When examined by polyp status, the patients without polyps had more depression than did the controls (38% versus 14.8%; p = 0.048). The somatic subscale scores of the BDI were worse in patients with CRS (p = 0.004), whereas the cognitive subscale trended toward significance (p = 0.081). Conclusion Depression may be more common in CRS than previously recognized, especially in patients without polyps. Somatic subscale scores of the BDI are increased in CRS and may impact future treatment outcomes.

Sleep quality outcomes after medical and surgical management of chronic rhinosinusitis

Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has been shown to improve sleep in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, it is unknown how this improvement compares with non‐CRS control subjects’ sleep, and medically treated CRS patients.

Impact of postoperative endoscopy upon clinical outcomes after endoscopic sinus surgery

After endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), endoscopy is used to gauge surgical success and clinical outcomes. Prior studies have not examined this topic prospectively using validated outcome metrics across multiple institutions.

Olfactory cleft computed tomography analysis and olfaction in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background Volumetric analysis of the olfactory cleft by using computed tomography has been associated with olfaction in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, existing studies have not comprehensively measured olfaction, and it thus remains unknown whether correlations differ across specific dimensions of odor perception. Objective To use comprehensive measures of patient-reported and objective olfaction to evaluate the relationship between volumetric olfactory cleft opacification and olfaction. Methods Olfaction in patients with CRS was evaluated by using “Sniffin’ Sticks” tests and a modified version of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders. Olfactory cleft opacification was quantified by using two- and three-dimensional, computerized volumetric analysis. Correlations between olfactory metrics and olfactory cleft opacification were then calculated. Results The overall CRS cohort included 26 patients without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP) (68.4%) and 12 patients with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) (31.6%). Across the entire cohort, total olfactory cleft opacification was 82.8%, with greater opacification in the CRSwNP subgroup compared with CRSsNP (92.3 versus 78.4%, p ≤ 0.001). The percent total volume opacification correlated with the total Sniffin’ Sticks score (r = -0.568, p ≤ 0.001) as well as individual threshold, discrimination, and identification scores (p ≤ 0.001 for all). Within the CRSwNP subgroup, threshold (r = -0.616, p = 0.033) and identification (r = -0.647, p = 0.023) remained highly correlated with total volume opacification. In patients with CRSsNP, the threshold correlated with total volume scores (r =-0.457, p = 0.019), with weaker and nonsignificant correlations for discrimination and identification. Correlations between total volume opacification and the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders were qualitatively similar to objective olfactory findings in both CRSwNP (r =-0.566, p = 0.070) and CRSsNP (r =-0.310, p = 0.141) subgroups, although neither reached significance. When examined by two-dimensional planes, the percent opacification of the anterior plane had the strongest correlations with objective olfaction. Conclusion Olfactory cleft opacification correlated with objective measures of olfaction in patients with CRS, which correlated with threshold values in patients with CRSsNP and all dimensions of olfaction in those with CRSwNP.

Association of olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis with economic productivity and medication usage.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has significant impacts upon productivity, economic metrics, and medication usage; however, factors that are associated with these economic outcomes are unknown.

Twenty-two–item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test in a control population: a cross-sectional study and systematic review

The 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) is a commonly utilized outcome measure for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, what constitutes a normal score remains poorly defined. The goal of this study was to evaluate SNOT‐22 scores in a control population without CRS and perform a systematic review and meta‐analysis of “normal” values.

Understanding the relationship between olfactory‐specific quality of life, objective olfactory loss, and patient factors in chronic rhinosinusitis

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) significantly impacts olfaction. However, the relationship between objective olfaction and patient‐reported olfactory‐specific quality of life (QOL) is not well understood. Furthermore, objective olfactory testing can be time consuming, so we sought to determine if patient‐reported olfactory QOL can be used as screening tool for olfactory dysfunction.

Does comorbid obesity impact quality of life outcomes in patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery

Both obesity and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are characterized by inflammation. Furthermore, both disease processes are independently associated with decreases in quality‐of‐life (QOL). We sought to investigate the role of comorbid obesity in QOL outcomes in CRS patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).