OBJECTIVES

: Sinusitis is inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the sinuses. Beside common symptoms it may include fever, headaches, sore throat, and a cough, which is worsening during nighttime. Lasting for more than 12 weeks it is defined chronic sinusitis.

Chronic sinusitis is supposed to affect about 12.5% of the German population. For acute sinusitis only after 7–10 days antibiotics are recommended. Surgery is only indicated with chronic disease.

Here we investigate the cost burden only due to hospitalizations for Germany in 2018, and aspects of regional differences

METHODS

: Inpatient care data from Federal Statistical Office and hospital quality reports 2005-2018 were evaluated for chronic sinusitis encodings and treatment schemes. Costs were derived from German DRG-scheme (G-DRG).

RESULTS

: In 2018 with main diagnosis (md) chronic sinusitis 59,001 cases were hospitalized and 54,450 with secondary diagnosis (sd). Average age md was 45.8 with sd was 48.5 years. 60.2% of md cases in age between 30 and 60; 19.4% under 30 and 20.3% over 60 years. 57.6% male, regionally constant. 95.0% treated in ENT-departments. 1.3% hospitalized cases are not undergoing surgery, with average G-DRG cost of 1.534€. G-DRG for surgery was between 1.958€ and 13.022€ with average 3.166€. The total G-DRG costs of hospitalization was 359,223,000€. This does not include possible extra funding, which would have minor impact. Frequency of hospitalization is highest in Bremen 1,482 per million inhabitants, lowest in Schleswig-Holstein with 531 per million inhabitants. Hospitalization is significantly correlated with density of population.

CONCLUSIONS

: Despite sinusitis is a high prevalence disease, only around 113,500 cases are hospitalized in Germany in 2018, mainly for surgery, adding up to costs to around 360m€. Rate of hospitalization is regionally different with peak in densely populated areas. Further research in the ambulatory setting and societal impact would be necessary to describe the impact of the disease.