Associations of alcohol consumption with the risk and surgical outcomes of chronic rhinosinusitis in China: A case–control study

Objective: To investigate the associations between weekly alcohol consumption and the risk and surgical outcome of Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS). Design: A case–control study. Setting and Participants: The study population consisted of 1095 CRS patients and 909 healthy collected from the first affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou University between May 2018 and December 2019. Main Outcome Measures: Unconditional multivariate logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were performed to estimate the association of alcohol consumption with the risk and surgical outcomes of CRS. Odds ratios (OR) or hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated separately. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to explore the possible molecular mechanisms. Results: As compared with nondrinkers, the multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI) values of current drinkers consuming 7.5–22 drinks and >22 drinks per week were 2.158 (1.249–3.729) and 5.373 (2.912–9.911), respectively. The rate of mucosal epithelialization after CRS surgery for patients who drank 7.5–22 drinks and >22 drinks per week was lower than that of nondrinkers [HR (95% CI) = 0.487 (0.351–0.675) and 0.252 (0.184–0.346), respectively]. The association of alcohol consumption with the risk and surgical outcome of CRS was dose dependent (p <.01). Alcohol consumption increased the risk of CRS and extended the time of mucosal epithelialization after CRS surgery by possibly increasing serum IgE levels (p <.05). Conclusion: Higher alcohol consumption of >7.5 drinks per week was an independent risk factor for CRS and extended the time of mucosal epithelialization after surgery. As a potential underlying mechanism, alcohol consumption increases serum IgE levels.