Pulmonary function in never-smoker patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

Background: A close relationship between upper and lower respiratory tract diseases has been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate lung function in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) who have never smoked. Methods: A total of 208 patients with CRS were enrolled in this study. Of these subjects, 96 patients were ever smokers and 112 patients were never smokers. CRS patients with lower pulmonary diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma were excluded from this study. Age-matched normal control subjects (n = 55) who were never smokers were also recruited. Pulmonary function testing was performed using spirometry. Lund-Mackay computed tomography (CT) score, peripheral blood eosinophil count, and immunoglobulin E (IgE) level in serum samples were examined. Nasal obstruction was evaluated by active anterior rhinomanometry. Results: CRS patients who were ever smokers have decreased lung function. Never-smoking patients with CRS also showed significant obstructive lung function changes as compared with normal controls. No significant correlation was detected between the clinical parameters (CT score, eosinophil count, IgE level, and nasal resistance) and lung function. Conclusion: Asymptomatic obstructive lung function changes were observed in never-smoking patients with CRS. Our findings suggest that patients with CRS should be followed carefully in order to detect lung diseases.