Objective:

To investigate the association between oral microbiome richness and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in adults.

Approach:

• Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis of adults from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey across three centers.
• Participants: Gingival sampling was performed on 355 participants, with metagenomic sequencing successful for 335 samples.
• Outcomes Measured: Respiratory outcomes included asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis, sensitization status, spirometry, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide.
• Statistical Analysis: Adjusted analyses were conducted to assess associations between oral microbiome richness and respiratory outcomes.

Key Findings:

• Increased oral microbiome richness was associated with chronic rhinosinusitis overall.
• The association was strongest among participants with nonallergic chronic rhinosinusitis.
• No consistent association was found between alpha diversity and asthma or other respiratory outcomes.
• Functional gene profiling revealed broader differences in gene presence between groups.

Interpretation:

Increased oral microbiome richness correlates with nonallergic chronic rhinosinusitis and impaired forced vital capacity.

Limitations:

• Cross-sectional design limits causality conclusions.
• Cohort was enriched for respiratory symptoms and not representative of the general population.
• Recent antibiotic-use data were unavailable, and outcomes were based on questionnaire responses.

Conclusion:

Increased oral microbiome richness is associated with nonallergic chronic rhinosinusitis and impaired forced vital capacity.

Sources:

• BMJ Open Respiratory Research