Academic institution pilot study shows far fewer diagnoses of sinusitis than reported nationally

• DOI: 10.1002/lio2.30
• Publication Date: 2016-08-04T10:07:16Z
• Authors: Sarah R. Akkina; Sarah J. Novis; Nahid R. Keshavarzi; Melissa A. Pynnonen
• Keywords: epistaxis; prevalence; 3. Good health; cross‐sectional study; Otolaryngology; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Allergy, Rhinology, and Immunology; Health Sciences; NAMCS; NHAMCS; Sinusitis

Objective To compare the prevalence of acute sinusitis (AS) and chronic (CS) diagnosed by primary care emergency medicine physicians in our academic institution to national data. Study Design Cross-sectional pilot study institutional census data a population-based sample. The setting was departments at an healthcare community practices nationally. Materials Methods We determined proportion adults visits for AS CS from January 1, 2005, December 31, 2010. used same parameters with National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey Hospital Survey. As control comparison, we epistaxis. Results considerably lower institution: all (AS combined) ranged 0.8% 1.0% compared 3.1% 3.7% There were very small differences between rates (0.7%–0.8%) nationally (0.8%–1.4%, P < 0.001) but large (0.1%) (1.7%–2.9%, 0.001). Epistaxis nearly identical both datasets (0.1%–0.2%, = 0.98–0.99). Conclusion is much institution, epistaxis are similar This suggests over-diagnosed providers that outside or specialty clinic may not hold up diagnostic scrutiny. For this reason, treatment protocols have been developed clinics should be extrapolated patients setting. most appropriate intervention majority education about conditions misdiagnosed as CS.