Research advances of the correlation between chronic rhinosinusitis and lower respiratory tract diseases

Chronic rhinosinusitis is an inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory tract, and has an important impact on the lower respiratory tract diseases. Epidemiological and clinical studies have proved that the upper and lower respiratory tract inflammatory diseases are usually combined. The view of the"united airway disease"is widely accepted by the medical community. The upper and lower respiratory tract are continued in anatomical structure, and have similar morphology and physiological function, so that the inflammation can be mutually involved. In this paper, the relationship and possible mechanisms between chronic rhinosinusitis and lower respiratory tract diseases are reviewed, which provide theoretical basis for the comprehensive treatment and prevention of upper and lower respiratory tract diseases. Key words: Sinusitis; Respiratory Tract Diseases