Gender Differences in Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Scoping Review

Introduction: Gender differences in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) have been demonstrated in a number of studies over the last 15 years. The purpose of this scoping review is to investigate the current knowledge on gender differences in CRS and to analyze the gaps in the literature.

Methods: This scoping review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A systematic search of OVID MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases was performed. Studies that evaluated gender differences in chronic rhinosinusitis were included in the review.

Results: Of the 523 abstracts reviewed, a total of 23 studies met criteria for inclusion. Articles consisted of retrospective and prospective cohort studies. They were divided into three categories based on whether they evaluated gender differences in (1) presentation and baseline quality of life (QoL), (2) pathophysiology, and/or (3) outcomes of treatment. Eleven studies addressed differences in presentation, five addressed differences in pathophysiology, and ten dealt with differences in outcomes after surgical or medical management. Most of the studies showed worse baseline QoL secondary to CRS in women, with outcome of treatment being similar in both genders.

Conclusions: The experience of CRS appears to vary between genders, with women experiencing a greater subjective burden of disease than men, though with similar outcomes after treatment. Further research is indicated, particularly involving the pathophysiology of CRS, to fully understand the underlying causes of these discrepancies.