Abstract
AIM: This study aimed to investigate the impact of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), implemented by the Chinese government during 2020-2022 to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019, on the incidence of inflammatory nasal diseases, including chronic nonallergic rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, acute rhinitis, chronic sinusitis and acute sinusitis. METHODS: Medical records from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the Hangzhou Normal University Affiliated Hospital were analysed to compare the incidence of the five nasal diseases between the pre-pandemic (January 2018-December 2019) and the pandemic prevention periods (January 2020-December 2022). The Chi-square test was used to compare incidence rates and sex/age distributions. RESULTS: The incidence of chronic nonallergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis and acute sinusitis decreased significantly during the pandemic prevention period (p < .001), while the incidence of allergic rhinitis and acute rhinitis increased significantly (p < .001). NPIs were protective factors for chronic nonallergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis and acute rhinosinusitis (relative risk (RR) < 1) but risk factors for allergic rhinitis and acute rhinitis (RR > 1). The proportion of male patients increased significantly for chronic nonallergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis (p < .001). The age of the patients showed significant differences in the four diseases - chronic nonallergic rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis and acute sinusitis (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: NPIs had a significant impact on the incidence and epidemiology of nasal inflammatory diseases, with significant differences in incidence rate, sex and age distribution between the pre-pandemic and pandemic prevention periods.