Clinical chronic rhinosinusitis outcomes in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis.

Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis are common conditions in cystic fibrosis (CF). Approximately 2-3% of pediatric CF patients per year have sinus disease requiring surgery. It has been well established that there is a significant negative impact on quality of life associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in the non-CF patient population. However, the impact of CRS on the pediatric CF population remains uncertain. The purpose of this article is to review the current state of outcome measures for CRS in pediatric CF patients.

Data Sources: PubMed and EMBASE literature review.

Methods: PubMed and EMBASE electronic databases were searched using Boolean searches that incorporated mesh headings and plain language for quality of life, symptom evaluation, pediatric patients, and sinusitis/rhinosinusitis. Studies were included if the study primarily evaluated a pediatric Cystic Fibrosis-Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CF-CRS) population and the primary outcome measure was quality of life evaluation.

Results: The search yielded 34 unique articles. A total of 7 articles met inclusion criteria.

Conclusions: Despite the high frequency of chronic rhinosinusitis in the pediatric CF patient population, its impact on quality of life is not well understood. Currently there is a lack of a validated disease specific quality of life instruments available to assess the impact of CRS on the pediatric CF patient population.

Level of Evidence: 5.