Women Have Higher Odds of Chronic Rhinosinusitis Without Nasal Polyps

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Females have a higher odds of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) without nasal polyps than men, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

Richard G. Chiu, from University of Illinois, Chicago, and colleagues examined whether biological sex is associated with a diagnosis of CRS. The analysis included 258,245 participants (ages 50 years and older) identified from the All of Us Research Program.

The researchers found that after controlling for covariates, compared with male sex, female sex was associated with increased odds of CRS without nasal polyps among those younger than 60 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.44) and 60 years and older (OR, 1.32). Female sex was associated with lower odds of CRS with nasal polyps (OR, 0.63). Among individuals with CRS without nasal polyps, women had a lower concentration of serum eosinophils (β, −0.35) and immunoglobulin E (β, −99.73) when controlling for covariates, as well as lower eosinophils among participants with CRS with nasal polyps (β, −0.41). By age group, CRS prevalence showed a downtrend among female participants 60 years and older and an upward trend among younger age groups. A regression analysis showed a negative interaction effect between female sex and age 60 years and older and odds of CRS without nasal polyps (OR, 0.91).

“Our findings raise additional questions regarding the effect of hormone-modifying states such as menopause and hormonal drug use on the development and progression of CRS,” the authors write.

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