View clinical trials related to Concomitant Disease.
Filter by:In Denmark an estimated 200.000 patients suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The breathing pauses during sleep result in varying degrees of symptoms ranging from none over disturbed sleep to severe daytime sleepiness and cognitive deficits such as reduced short-term memory and difficulty concentrating. In addition, it increases the risk of hypertension, cardiovascular thromboembolic disease and type-2 diabetes as well as causing a 3-6 times increased risk of being involved in traffic accidents. Recent studies suggest that measurement of fractioned exhaled nitrogen oxide (FeNO) from the upper airway may be used as marker for airway inflammation. Studies have demonstrated that inflammation of the airway is present in OSA. In this study the investigators want to see whether FeNO measurements from the upper airway can be used to screen severe snorers for OSA. OSA is rarely diagnosed in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRSwNP) or asthma. The connection between these three inflammatory conditions and the level of FeNO has not previously been investigated but might be clarified in our study. Patients suffering from severe snoring will be offered inclusion. The patients will undergo an ENT examination as well as FeNO testing and testing of lung function. A sleep study will be made as well as they will be asked to fill out questionnaires on sleep quality, nasal symptoms, lung function and their health in general.
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a condition resulting in varying degrees of nasal congestion, nasal secretion, facial pain and reduced or absent sense of smell. In Denmark an estimated 200.000 patients suffer from this condition. It affects the quality of life in a degree equivalent to chronic cardiac and respiratory conditions. CRSwNP is known to be associated with inflammation in the nose and sinuses. In some patients the inflammation is also present in the lower airway resulting in shortness of breath, chest constriction, wheezing and coughing. It follows that asthma is often seen in patients with CRSwNP. Even though the association of asthma and CRSwNP is well known it is easy to overlook the asthma further reducing the quality of life. Previous studies have found that undiagnosed asthma is present in about a quarter of patients with CRSwNP. While many of the CRSwNP patients are treated in private ENT practice alone the lack of simple diagnostic tests giving a reliable measurement of airway inflammation is a challenge in diagnosing concurrent asthma. A recent study showed measuring of fractional exhaled nitrogen oxide (FeNO) in exhaled air to be a promising diagnostic test. The concentration of this gas in the exhaled air from the nose and mouth is related to the degree of airway inflammation and can therefore be used as a surrogate measurement in a safe and easy way. With this study the investigators want to measure the concentration of FeNO in patients with CRSwNP in private ENT practices. The aim is to explore if it can be used as a screening test for asthma. The study will also screen the patients for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Patients will be recruited from three private ENT practices in the Capital Region of Denmark. Patients with CRSwNP will be recruited from their appointments in the ENT clinics. They will be offered inclusion in the study, and if they give an informed consent, an exhaled NO test and a thorough ENT examination including a fiberoptic examination of the upper airway will be performed. They will also be asked to fill out questionnaires on the severity of symptoms from the nose and lungs, sleep quality and their health in general. Patients will also undergo a sleep study (Cardio-Respiratory Monitoring = CRM) and tests of lung function. With signs of respiratory or sinus disease they will be referred for further investigations and treatment.