Follow-up to: Are there any studies tracking sinus symptoms after COVID over time?
Question explored with the scientific record
How do COVID survivors' sinusitis rates compare to people without COVID?
The short version: the evidence retrieved does not answer whether COVID survivors have higher sinusitis rates than people without COVID.
None of the 32 studies here compare sinusitis incidence between COVID survivors and non-COVID controls. The closest is a 2024 cardiac cohort that tracked hospitalized COVID patients for 12 months, but it measured arrhythmias, not sinus outcomes [4]. The sinusitis literature covers GERD, allergies, surgery, and fungal disease—none of it tied to COVID [14, 15, 17]. A 2025 study of upper airway sampling confirms SARS-CoV-2 infects the nose and throat, but it does not track later sinus disease [26].
The most informative design—COVID survivors versus uninfected controls, with clinically diagnosed sinusitis as the endpoint—was never run. The gap itself is the finding. No study here establishes the hypothesis, and none refutes it.
My call: the evidence does not answer the question. Confidence: not clear—the comparison has not been studied in the evidence provided.
Sources examined 32
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Acute resetting of the carotid sinus baroreflex by aortic depressor nerve stimulation
This study investigates the effects of prolonged aortic depressor nerve stimulation on the carotid sinus baroreflex regulation of arterial pressure and renal sympathetic nerve activity in anesthetized rabbits, revealing significant shifts in baroreflex curves post-stimulation.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.1993.264.4.H1215 -
Recurrent Acute Rhinosinusitis: Presentation and Outcomes of Sinus Surgery
This study evaluates the outcomes of endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with recurrent acute rhinosinusitis (RARS) compared to those with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) without polyposis, finding that both groups experience significant improvements in quality of life post-surger…
DOI: 10.2500/ajr.2008.22.3177 -
Plasma endothelin-1 and thrombomodulin levels in coronary sinus during right atrial pacing and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
This study investigates the changes in plasma endothelin-1 and thrombomodulin levels in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, revealing significant increases in endothelin-1 post-procedure and highlighting its potential as a marker for acute endothe…
DOI: 10.1016/s0167-5273(00)00256-4 -
Acute ECG changes and post-COVID arrhythmia incidence in patients with acute COVID-19 infection
Hospitalized COVID-19 patients showed prolonged P-wave, QTc, and Tp-e intervals; those with elevated troponin had increased QT dispersion and more subsequent palpitations, inappropriate sinus tachycardia, PVCs, and beta-blocker use.
DOI: 10.5472/marumj.1378494 -
Ivabradine versus carvedilol in the management of palpitation with sinus tachycardia among recovered COVID-19 patients
Ivabradine monotherapy reduced heart rate more effectively than carvedilol in recovered COVID-19 patients with sinus tachycardia, and adding atorvastatin aided non-responders.
DOI: 10.29328/journal.jccm.1001107 -
Osteonecrosis of the jaw induced by arsenic trioxide therapy in a leukemia patient: A rare case report and literature review
A rare case report describing a leukemia patient treated with arsenic trioxide and ATRA who developed tooth migration into the left maxillary sinus and osteonecrosis-like changes, detailing surgical management, post-operative care, and implications for dental management during A…
DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.104725 -
Effects of sinus gland extract on mandibular organ size and methyl farnesoate synthesis in the crawfish
The study shows that eyestalk-derived factors regulate methyl farnesoate synthesis and mandibular organ growth in the crayfish Procambarus clarkii, with eyestalk removal enhancing FOMT activity while crude sinus gland extract acutely inhibits it in vitro and in vivo, suggesting …
DOI: 10.1016/s1095-6433(00)00312-3 -
Evidence for a ‘preinvasive’ variant of fungal sinusitis: Tissue invasion without angioinvasion
The study reports two cases of a proposed 'preinvasive' fungal sinusitis variant characterized by tissue invasion without angioinvasion, and suggests a semi‑aggressive treatment approach with limited surgical debridement and shorter antifungal therapy, proposing angioinvasion as…
DOI: 10.1016/j.wjorl.2017.01.003 -
Association between Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation and the Left Atrial Appendage Ejection Fraction during Sinus Rhythm in the Acute Stage of Stroke: A Transesophageal Echocardiographic Study
In acute ischemic stroke, left atrial appendage ejection fraction measured during sinus rhythm predicts paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with moderate accuracy, whereas LAA flow velocity does not.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2013.03.020 -
Efficacy and Safety of Oral Levofloxacin Compared with Clarithromycin in the Treatment of Acute Sinusitis in Adults: A Multicentre, Double-Blind, Randomized Study
A multicentre, double-blind, randomized trial in adults with acute sinusitis found that oral levofloxacin 500 mg once daily is as effective as clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily over 10–14 days, with similar or better tolerability and faster symptom resolution.
DOI: 10.1177/030006059802600602 -
Antiarrythmic effect of the diet, enriched by the polynonsaturated fatty acids in acute ischemia and reperfusion
This study investigates the low rate of sudden death following permanent pacemaker implantation in a cohort of 1,595 patients, revealing that only 1.8% experienced sudden death, primarily due to non-cardiac causes.
DOI: 10.1016/0300-9572(93)90068-2 -
Myocardial acceleration during isovolumic contraction: A load-independent tissue doppler marker of ventricular contractility
This study investigates the impact of afterload reduction on left atrial appendage tissue velocities in patients with mitral stenosis following percutaneous mitral commissurotomy, revealing significant changes in tissue Doppler imaging parameters post-procedure.
DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(03)81334-7 -
Nasal septal abscess complicated with acute sinusitis and facial cellulitis in a child
This study presents a rare case of a nasal septal abscess complicated by acute sinusitis and facial cellulitis in an otherwise healthy 11-year-old girl, highlighting the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent severe complications.
DOI: 10.1016/j.anl.2006.07.006 -
Prevalence of Chronic Rhinosinusitis in a Population of Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
This study investigates the prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and finds a significantly higher prevalence of CRS among GERD patients compared to the general population, along with a notable decrease in sinonasal-re…
DOI: 10.2500/ajra.2015.29.4167 -
Nasal and sinus symptoms and chronic rhinosinusitis in a population-based sample
This US population-based study used EPOS criteria to estimate the prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis in a large general-population sample and to characterize symptom subgroups and their associations with sociodemographic factors and comorbidities.
DOI: 10.1111/all.13042 -
The overlap between bronchiectasis and chronic airway diseases: state of the art and future directions
This review synthesizes current knowledge on the overlap between bronchiectasis and other chronic airway diseases (notably asthma, COPD, and chronic rhinosinusitis), detailing prevalence, shared inflammatory features, diagnostic challenges, therapeutic implications, and key gaps…
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00328-2018 -
Prevalence of Allergy in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis
This study investigates the prevalence of allergies in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, finding that a significant majority are sensitive to perennial allergens, particularly molds and dust mites, which may contribute to their condition.
DOI: 10.1016/j.otohns.2004.02.007 -
Burden of Illness: A Systematic Review of Depression in Chronic Rhinosinusitis
This systematic review assesses the prevalence of depression in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and its relationship with disease severity and treatment outcomes, finding a prevalence range of 11.0% to 40.0% and highlighting the negative impact of depression on qualit…
DOI: 10.2500/ajra.2016.30.4343 -
High Prevalence of Humoral Immunodeficiency Patients with Refractory Chronic Rhinosinusitis
This study reveals a high prevalence of humoral immunodeficiency among patients with refractory chronic rhinosinusitis, suggesting the need for routine immune function assessments in this population.
DOI: 10.2500/ajra.2010.24.3532 -
Staphylococcus aureus prevalence in allergic fungal rhinosinusitis vs other subsets of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
This study investigates the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in patients with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) compared to those with other subsets of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), finding a significantly higher prevalence in the AFRS group.
DOI: 10.1002/alr.21090 -
Prevalence of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease among asthmatic patients: A meta-analysis of the literature
This meta-analysis investigates the prevalence of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) among asthmatic patients, revealing a prevalence rate of approximately 7.15%, with higher rates observed in patients with severe asthma.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2014.08.020 -
Taste impairment in chronic rhinosinusitis
This study investigates taste impairment in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), finding a prevalence of 28% for dysgeusia, with no correlation to olfactory dysfunction but associations with demographic factors such as age, gender, and smoking history.
DOI: 10.1002/alr.22113 -
The prevalence of Eustachian tube dysfunction symptoms in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis
This study investigates the prevalence of Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) symptoms in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and finds that nearly half of the patients exhibit clinically significant ETD, with moderate correlations between ETDQ-7 scores and SNOT-22 scores, …
DOI: 10.1002/alr.22056 -
High Burden of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Subgroups of Chronic Rhinosinusitis: Importance of Phenotyping Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients for Stratifying Risk Factors for This Major Comorbidity
This study identifies risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), highlighting the increased prevalence of OSA among older, male, and Black CRS patients.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2015.12.739 -
SARS-CoV-2 droplet deposition path and its effects on the human upper airway in the oral inhalation
A CT-based fluid-structure interaction study using CFD with Euler-Lagrange droplet tracking to map SARS-CoV-2–bearing droplet deposition in the human upper airway during oral inhalation, showing mouth-dominated deposition with high lung exposure only for 1 μm droplets at higher …
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2020.105843 -
Diagnostic performance of upper airway sampling sites for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza testing
This randomized outpatient clinical trial in Copenhagen compares nasopharyngeal, throat, nasal, and saliva sampling for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza testing, finding throat swabs most sensitive for both viruses, saliva least effective for influenza, and a throat-plus-nasal combinati…
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02212-25 -
Resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection in camelid nasal organoids is associated with lack of ACE2 expression
The study establishes well-differentiated camelid nasal organoids to model the camelid upper respiratory tract and shows that camelids resist SARS-CoV-2 infection due to lack of surface ACE2, while remaining permissive to MERS-CoV infection via DPP4, with Omicron SARS-CoV-2 vari…
DOI: 10.1038/s44298-024-00054-0 -
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant causes mild pathology in the upper and lower respiratory tract of hamsters
Omicron shows markedly milder pathology in the upper and lower respiratory tract of hamsters compared with Gamma, Delta, and ancestral SARS-CoV-2 614G, indicating reduced pathogenicity in this model.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31200-y -
Nasopharyngeal viral infection as a source of elevated fecal calprotectin: a diagnostic pitfall in intestinal inflammation
Upper airway viral infections can release calprotectin from proximal epithelia that survives gastrointestinal transit, elevating fecal calprotectin and confounding its use as a biomarker for intestinal inflammation.
DOI: 10.1186/s13099-025-00780-7 -
Testing the limits of multiplex respiratory virus assays for SARS-CoV-2 at high cycle threshold values: Comparative performance of cobas 6800/8800 SARS-CoV-2 & Influenza A/B, Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV, and cobas Liat SARS-CoV-2 & Influenza A/B
This study retrospectively compared four multiplex respiratory virus assays (cobas 6800/8800, Xpert Xpress, cobas Liat, and a laboratory-developed test) for detecting SARS-CoV-2 at high Ct values using upper respiratory samples, finding good performance at Ct <33 with some disco…
DOI: 10.3138/jammi-2022-0039 -
IgG Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Viral RNA Persistence in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis
A brief report showing that maintenance hemodialysis patients mount a SARS-CoV-2–specific IgG response with rapid seroconversion, but viral RNA persists in the upper airways for weeks, suggesting that quarantine decisions should require two consecutive negative RT-PCR tests befo…
DOI: 10.1053/J.AJKD.2020.05.009 -
Efficacy of Nucleic Acid Extraction by Manual versus Automated Magnetic Bead-based Method to Detect SARS-CoV-2
A cross-sectional study comparing manual versus automated magnetic bead-based nucleic acid extraction for SARS-CoV-2 detection in 470 upper respiratory samples (organized into 94 pools) found automated extraction reduced test failures and improved internal control detection, sug…
DOI: 10.7860/jcdr/2022/58370.17136