Risk of swallowing disorders in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis in comparison to healthy controls: a Survey of 50 cases.

Purpose: To investigate the risk of swallowing disorders and the frequency and intensity of vocal tract symptoms in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis (CRSwNP).

Methods: Adult patients diagnosed with CRSwNP presenting to the rhinology clinic of a tertiary referral center between March 2023 and March 2024, were recruited. Patients with acute or recent history of respiratory tract infections, tonsillitis, pharyngitis or otitis, were excluded. The frequency and severity of nasal symptoms and their impact on quality of life was assessed using the Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). The Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) was used to evaluate the risk of swallowing disorders, and the Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale (VTDS) was used to evaluate the frequency and intensity of vocal tract symptoms.

Results: Twenty-five patients with CRSwNP and 25 controls were recruited for this study. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean EAT-10 score between the study group and control group (3.52 ± 4.68 vs.0.88 ± 1.83; p = 0.013). There was also a statistically significant difference in the mean VTDS score between the study group and control group (12.56 ± 7.9 vs. 4 ± 4.64; p < 0.001). There was a positive moderate correlation between the VTDS score and the SNOT-22 score (r = 0.595; p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The study indicates that patients with CRSwNP have a higher risk for swallowing disorders and are more likely to experience vocal tract symptoms than healthy controls.