The Impact and Burden of Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps on Patients and Their Family Caregivers: A Nationally Representative Survey

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNPs) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with frustrating symptoms, particularly nasal obstruction and loss of smell. We conducted a patient survey on the significant burden of the disease, with a specific focus on conditions that affect health, sleep quality, absenteeism, and presenteeism, including the caregivers’ perspectives. Methods: An online questionnaire was sent to 4230 randomly selected recipients, and 200 matched the inclusion criteria for self-reported CRSwNPs symptoms. A total of 100 participants not matching the inclusion criteria for CRSwNPs were recruited as a control group. The study also collected the perspectives of 50 caregivers. Results: Patients with CRSwNPs experienced very bothersome symptoms, such as nasal congestion, headache, and rhinorrhoea, with a profound impact on their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The patients and their caregivers showed significantly lower quality of sleep, experiencing a poor night’s sleep on average 72.1 and 51.7 days per year, respectively. Smell and taste impairments significantly impacted patients’ social and working lives, with 39.5% feeling in danger because of hyposmia and 34.5% because of limited taste. Out-of-pocket costs were up to EUR 40/month for 68.5% of patients. CRSwNPs alone was responsible for an average of 24.7 days of absenteeism and 25.1 days of presenteeism. Conclusions: Our results highlight how CRSwNPs has a negative impact on patients’ and caregivers’ HRQoL. Most bothersome and health-conditioning symptoms involve nose symptoms and poor sleep quality, resulting in patient absenteeism and presenteeism with a strong burden on cognitive and emotional functioning for both patients and their caregivers.