Assessment of population health losses due to nasal obstruction based on the concept of the global burden of disease: general approaches and research directions

Abstract

The current impact of disease on society and the health care system is increasingly driven by disability rather than premature mortality. In otorhinolaryngology, there are many diseases that have a high prevalence and cause significant health losses: hearing loss, chronic tonsillitis and pharyngitis, and more. Nasal obstruction is a common symptom in clinical practice. Given the high prevalence of nasal congestion, a significant decline in quality of life, and a significant socio-economic burden in society, this symptom is often key in the treatment of patients with rhinological diseases and a significant factor in assessing the medical need for  effective treatment options for  this condition. The  resolution of  the  Council of  experts of  the  National Medical Association of Otorhinolaryngologists on problems of nasal obstruction (April 17, 2021, Sochi) states that «it is necessary to conduct a medical and statistical study of public health losses associated with diseases that cause nasal obstruction, using methods for assessing the global burden of the disease and risk factors for the development of nasal obstruction». As you know, the World Health Organization measures the global burden of disease in the number of years of life lost as a result of disability. This indicator combines years of life lost due to premature mortality and years of life lost due to health conditions that do not meet the criteria for full health. The assessment of the disease burden in our country is used quite actively, most often for diseases that lead to death. The assessment of the disease burden indicator for diseases accompanied by nasal obstruction in our country has not been carried out, although the problem of treating nasal obstruction is of high relevance. The aim of the study is to discuss issues related to the study of public health losses due to diseases that cause nasal obstruction, using methods for assessing the global burden of the disease. The article provides an overview of the causes of nasal obstruction, information about its prevalence in various diseases, and discusses the calculation of the burden of nasal obstruction and possible approaches to calculating the global burden of disease, taking into account current methodological problems in this area.