Epidemiology of nasal polyps

Abstract

Nasal polyps are found in 36% of patients with aspirin intolerance, 7% of those with asthma, 0.1% in children, and about 20% in those with cystic fibrosis. Other conditions associated with nasal polyps are Churg-Strauss Syndrome, allergic fungal sinusitis, and cilia dyskinetic syndrome, (Kartagener's) and Young Syndrome. Nasal polyps are statistically more common in nonallergic asthma versus allergic asthma (13% vs 5%, P < 0.01). About 40% of patients with surgical polypectomies have recurrences. There appears to be a hereditary factor for developing nasal polyps. A classification system for staging nasal polyps is proposed in order to standardize treatment, consider differential diagnosis, and harvest meaningful comparative research information.