Prevalence and management of chronic rhino-sinusitis in urban and rural populations. A comparative study
1Dr . Tariq Mehmood, 2Dr Muhammad Malook Bugti, 3Dr Abdul Mutalib, 4Dr Hina Jabeen, 5Dr Muhammad Parvez,
Submission: 31 January 2026 | Acceptance: 28 February 2026 | Publication: 04 April 2026
1Assistant professor of medicine Bolan medical collage
2Demonstrator of Community Medicine, Jhalawan Medical College
3Assistant Professor of Community Medicine,Jahalawan Medical College Khuzdar
4Dow Medical College Karachi
5Wah Medical College
Abstract
Background
A frequent inflammatory disease of the nasal and paranasal sinuses, chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has a major negative impact on quality of life and is very expensive to treat. Its prevalence and management in urban and rural populations may be influenced by differences in healthcare accessibility, socioeconomic position, and environmental exposures.
Objective
To assess how common chronic rhinosinusitis is and how it is treated in rural and urban areas.
Methods
Over the course of six months, 200 participants—100 from urban and 100 from rural areas—participated in a comparative cross-sectional study. Patients who had been experiencing CRS symptoms for more than 12 weeks and were at least 18 years old were included. A standardized questionnaire including clinical aspects, risk factors, management techniques, and demographic variables was used to gather data. SPSS version 25 was used for statistical analysis, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was deemed significant.
Results
The prevalence of CRS was 32% overall, and it was more common in rural areas (36%) than in urban areas (28%). Nasal blockage, nasal discharge, face pain, and loss of smell were common complaints. Patients in rural areas were more likely to smoke and be exposed to biomass fuels, whereas patients in urban areas were more likely to have asthma and allergic rhinitis. In both categories, medical management was the main form of treatment; however, patients in metropolitan areas were more likely to undergo surgery. The urban population outperformed the rural group in terms of treatment adherence and clinical outcomes.
Conclusion
Rural populations are more likely to have CRS, and there are notable distinctions between urban and rural populations in terms of risk factors, treatment, and results. To lessen the burden of CRS, especially in rural areas, better healthcare access, awareness, and focused interventions are required.
Keywords
Chronic rhinosinusitis; Prevalence; Urban population; Rural population; Risk factors; Management; Comparative study