People suffering from chronic sinusitis are more at risk of depression and anxiety, a new study found.
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) affects one in 10 adults and causes inflammation of the nose and paranasal sinuses that can make breathing difficult and cause facial pain or tenderness.
Sufferers have a reduced quality of life, need more medical attention and are more likely to be off sick.
Chronic rhinosinusitis is sub-categorized by the presence or absence of nasal polyps.
The overall incidence of depression during the 11-year follow-up was 1.51-fold higher in sufferers, the South Korean study found. The incidence of anxiety was 1.57-fold higher.
But if sufferers also had nasal polyps, there was at an even greater risk of depression (1.61-fold) and anxiety (1.63-fold) than CRS without nasal polyps.
Assistant Professor Dr Dong-Kyu Kim at Hallym University College of Medicine in Chuncheon explained: “It is well known that CRS places a considerable burden on society and the health care system in terms of direct health care costs and other indirect costs.
“In addition, CRS can have a considerable effect on the patient’s health-related quality of life by causing physical, social, emotional, and cognitive impairment.
“Moreover, CRS can be associated with a range of therapy-induced adverse effects and exert a financial influence on the patient.
“Mental health problems related to CRS, such as depression and anxiety, also affect the patient’s health-related quality of life and can create challenges in medical management.”
The study was based on the health insurance records of 48,672 South Koreans, of which 58.8 per cent were woman.
Dr Kim said: ‘CRS is one of the common rhinologic diseases and, despite receiving optimal medical and surgical treatment, some patients with CRS have repeated, persistent symptoms, which have made this condition challenging to manage.