Next Article in Journal
Early Rod Dysfunction Influences Cone Development in a Rhodopsin P23H Mouse Model of Retinitis Pigmentosa
Next Article in Special Issue
Redefining Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Treatment in the Modern Era
Previous Article in Journal
Is Obesity a Modifiable Risk Factor in Multiple Sclerosis? Mechanistic Insights into Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Damage
Previous Article in Special Issue
Clinical Phenotypes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Decade of Evidence Toward Personalized Management
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Pathophysiology
Volume 33
Issue 1
10.3390/pathophysiology33010006
pathophysiology-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Paranasal Sinus CT and Polysomnographic Findings in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: Implications for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

by
Matthias Welsner
1,*,
Sarah Dietz-Terjung
1,2,
Svenja Strassburg
1,
Dirk Westhölter
1,
Sivagurunathan Sutharsan
1,
Christoph Schöbel
2,
Christian Taube
1,2,
Florian Stehling
3,
Cornelius Kürten
4,
Cornelius Deuschl
5,
Michael Forsting
5,
Sebastian Zensen
5,
Johannes Haubold
5,
Benedikt M. Schaarschmidt
5 and
Marcel Opitz
5
1
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital Essen—Ruhrlandklinik, Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45239 Essen, Germany
2
Department of Sleep and Telemedicine, University Hospital Essen—Ruhrlandklinik, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
3
Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, Cystic Fibrosis Center, Children’s Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
4
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
5
Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Pathophysiology 2026, 33(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathophysiology33010006
Submission received: 31 October 2025 / Revised: 23 December 2025 / Accepted: 12 January 2026 / Published: 14 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Obstructive Sleep Apnea Phenotypes: First Decade of Exploration and Beyond)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

Objective: To assess whether chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) severity is associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adult people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-center study of 44 adults with CF who underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) assessment, and sinus computed tomography (CT). CRS severity was quantified using the Lund–Mackay score (LMS) and the main nasal cavity score (MNCS). OSA was defined by Apnea–Hypopnea Index (AHI) thresholds per American Academy of Sleep Medicine criteria. Results: Participants had a mean age of 31.1 ± 8.4 years and a mean percent predicted FEV1 of 51.8 ± 15.7. Sinus CT showed radiological evidence of CRS in all participants. Mean AHI was 5.3 ± 4.4/h; 48% had AHI ≥ 5/h. There were no significant differences between pwCF with and without OSA in age, sex, BMI, lung function, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, or ESS score (all p > 0.05). Mean LMS and MNCS did not differ between OSA and non-OSA groups (both p > 0.05), and neither score correlated with PSG parameters or ESS (all p > 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated low discriminative ability of LMS and MNCS for predicting OSA (AUCs < 0.70, p < 0.05). Conclusions: In this cohort of adults with CF, CT-based CRS severity was not associated with OSA. Given the substantial prevalence of OSA observed, PSG screening should be considered irrespective of CRS severity.
Keywords: cystic fibrosis; adults; polysomnography; apnea-hypopnea index; obstructive sleep apnea; sinus computed tomography; chronic rhinosinusitis; Lund-Mackay score cystic fibrosis; adults; polysomnography; apnea-hypopnea index; obstructive sleep apnea; sinus computed tomography; chronic rhinosinusitis; Lund-Mackay score

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Welsner, M.; Dietz-Terjung, S.; Strassburg, S.; Westhölter, D.; Sutharsan, S.; Schöbel, C.; Taube, C.; Stehling, F.; Kürten, C.; Deuschl, C.; et al. Paranasal Sinus CT and Polysomnographic Findings in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: Implications for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Pathophysiology 2026, 33, 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathophysiology33010006

AMA Style

Welsner M, Dietz-Terjung S, Strassburg S, Westhölter D, Sutharsan S, Schöbel C, Taube C, Stehling F, Kürten C, Deuschl C, et al. Paranasal Sinus CT and Polysomnographic Findings in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: Implications for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Pathophysiology. 2026; 33(1):6. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathophysiology33010006

Chicago/Turabian Style

Welsner, Matthias, Sarah Dietz-Terjung, Svenja Strassburg, Dirk Westhölter, Sivagurunathan Sutharsan, Christoph Schöbel, Christian Taube, Florian Stehling, Cornelius Kürten, Cornelius Deuschl, and et al. 2026. "Paranasal Sinus CT and Polysomnographic Findings in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: Implications for Obstructive Sleep Apnea" Pathophysiology 33, no. 1: 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathophysiology33010006

APA Style

Welsner, M., Dietz-Terjung, S., Strassburg, S., Westhölter, D., Sutharsan, S., Schöbel, C., Taube, C., Stehling, F., Kürten, C., Deuschl, C., Forsting, M., Zensen, S., Haubold, J., Schaarschmidt, B. M., & Opitz, M. (2026). Paranasal Sinus CT and Polysomnographic Findings in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: Implications for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Pathophysiology, 33(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathophysiology33010006

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop