The agreement between self-reported physician-diagnosed and epidemiologic definition of chronic rhinosinusitis

Abstract

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a major public health problem with a high burden on the health system. The studies conducted based on the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GALEN) reported that the prevalence of CRS in Europe, USA, China and Brazil were 10.9%, 11.9%, 8% and 5.5%, respectively . For epidemiological studies, the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EPOS) defined CRS as an inflammation of the nose and the paranasal sinuses characterized by presence of two or more symptoms, one of which should be either nasal blockage/obstruction/congestion or nasal discharge (anterior/posterior nasal drip): ± facial pain/pressure; ± reduction or loss of smell for more than 12 weeks during the last 12 months .