Long-Term PM2.5 Exposure Linked to Increased Risk of Nasal Polyps in Chronic Rhinosinusitis: Study Finds

For this purpose, the researchers analyzed data from 376 patients (308 with CRS and 68 controls) who underwent sinus or skull base surgery. A machine-learning model estimated daily PM2.5 exposure for the year before surgery. Cytokine levels were measured and correlated with PM2.5 exposure using Spearman and multivariate analyses. High- and low-exposure groups were matched by age, sex, income, and rurality. Logistic regression was used to assess the odds of CRS based on PM2.5 exposure.

The key findings of the study were as follows:

• Higher PM2.5 exposure was significantly associated with reduced IL-10 levels in control patients (β = −0.735).
• In the exposure-matched logistic regression analysis, elevated 12-month PM2.5 exposure independently predicted CRSwNP (β = 1.97, OR: 7.22) after adjusting for age, income, rurality, and comorbid asthma/allergic rhinitis.
• There was no significant association between PM2.5 exposure and CRSsNP.

The findings reinforce the role of PM2.5 as an independent risk factor for developing chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, with the associated risk comparable to that posed by comorbid asthma or allergic rhinitis. Notably, reduced levels of IL-10—a key anti-inflammatory cytokine—were observed in control patients exposed to higher levels of PM2.5, suggesting a potential mechanistic link between prolonged particulate matter exposure and increased vulnerability to nasal mucosal inflammation.

"While these findings highlight a possible pathway contributing to CRSwNP, further validation through experimental, in vitro, and longitudinal multi-omics studies is warranted," the authors concluded.

Reference:

Lubner, R. J., Krysinski, M., Li, P., Chandra, R. K., Turner, J. H., & Chowdhury, N. I. Long-Term Particulate Matter Exposure May Increase Risk of Chronic Rhinosinusitis WIth Nasal Polyposis: Results from an Exposure-Matched Study. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, e23589. https://doi.org/10.1002/alr.23589