Burden of disease in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a predominantly type 2 inflammation-mediated disease of the nasal mucosa and paranasal sinuses with an under-recognized clinical, humanistic, and economic burden. Patients with CRSwNP experience a high symptom burden, including nasal congestion, loss of smell, and rhinorrhea, which has a negative impact on physical and mental health-related quality of life, including sleep quality. Existing medical and surgical interventions, including local and systemic corticos-teroids and endoscopic sinus surgery, may be associated with recurrence of nasal polyps and associated symptoms and with an increased risk of short-and long-term adverse effects, especially with repeated or long-term use. Because type 2 inflammation is implicated in the pathogenesis of several coexisting diseases, patients with CRSwNP often have comorbid asthma and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-exacerbated respiratory disease. These patients, as well as those with high corticosteroid use and/or sinonasal surgical history, have more severe disease and associated symptom burden and represent a difficult-to-treat population under the existing management paradigm. This article reviews the clinical, humanistic, and economic burden of CRSwNP; it highlights the unmet need for effective and safe CRSwNP therapies that effectively control symptoms and minimize recurrence by targeting the underlying type 2 inflammatory disease pathophysiology.