Secondary outcome measures
anterior rhinorrhea, LKS, NPS, rhinorrhea, pain, nasal congestion, sneezing
RECURRENCES, SECONDARY, RECURRENCE
Concerning the endoscopic secondary outcome measure assessed by the Lund-Kennedy score, no significant interaction “group x time” (p = 0.507) could be seen over all time points (Line plots of the Lund-Kennedy score (LKS, p = 0.507); the dotted line represents the placebo group, the continuous line represents the steroid group.For the sinonasal symptoms (nasal congestion, anterior rhinorrhea, posterior rhinorrhea, sneezing, sense of smell) there was no significant interaction between the groups either (p ≥ 0.253, Line plots of the sinonasal symptoms Line plot of the 16-item odor identification test scores assessed using Sniffin’ Sticks over the 2-year follow-up showing no interaction between the steroid and the placebo group (p=0.380); the dotted line represents the placebo group, the continuous line represents the steroid group.This was also true for most of the biomarkers (CST1, CST2, PAPP-A, Periostin, SerpinE1, SerpinF2, MMP9, IgE, Il-4 and Il-5, with p ≥ 0.078) as well as the general quality of life measures (SF-36: physical functioning p=0.762, role physical p=0.287, pain index p=0.027, general health perceptions p=0.959, vitality p=0.431, social functioning p=0.159, role emotional p=0.566, and mental health p=0.422) that did not differ significantly between the two groups over time. Although only Serpin E1 showed a significant interaction group x time (p = 0.042), no significant group differences were found at any time point (uncorrected: p ≥ 0.060, corrected: p ≥ 0.542. For all details, please see the Additionally, neither group differed regarding recurrence rates over time, either defined after the NPS (with 7/41 (17.1%) recurrences in the steroid and 7/39 (17.9%) recurrences in the placebo group (p=0.92)) or the RSDI (with 6/41 (14.6%) recurrences and the steroid and 10/39 (25.6%) recurrences in the placebo group (p = 0.22). Eight patients underwent revision surgery for recurrence within the 2-year follow-up. Here again, the need for revision surgery was not significantly different between the groups (steroid group: 2, placebo group: 7, p=0.064).