The Cooperative Outcomes Group for ENT: A multicenter prospective cohort study on the effectiveness of medical and surgical treatment for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis:

Objective To assess outcomes for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Study design and setting Prospective, multicenter study; 31 otolaryngologists enrolled 276 adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis; patients completed surveys at 3-month intervals, and physicians provided clinical and treatment data. The primary outcome measure was the Chronic Sinusitis Survey-Duration (CSS-D). Results One hundred seventeen adult patients completed 12-month follow-up. Most patients reported sinus symptoms lasting longer than 3 years (74%). Patients showed significant improvement (group P P P P Conclusions Patients referred to an otolaryngologist have a severe sinus illness. Treatment by an otolaryngologist was associated with significant improvement in sinus-related symptoms. Significance The study demonstrated the feasibility of multicenter outcome studies in chronic rhinosinusitis and generated testable hypotheses for future investigation. EBM rating: C.