Relationship between Adenoid Hypertrophy and Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy in Patients with Chronic Nasal Obstruction: A Cross-sectional, Observational Study

BACKGROUND: Nasal obstruction (NO) is a common condition affecting distinct age groups and can significantly impair quality of life. Major causes of NO include adenoid hypertrophy (AH), yet clinical evaluation of adenoid size remains variable, particularly among young children and adults. Inferior turbinate hypertrophy (ITH) often co-exists with AH, requiring joint evaluation during management. However, both are established contributors to NO, and limited evidence correlates these hypertrophies. This study aims to assess the association between AH and ITH in chronic NO (CNO) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted over 18 months in the department of otorhinolaryngology at a tertiary care center. It included 75 patients aged 6-60 years with CNO who underwent nasal endoscopic evaluation. Demographic data, clinical features, occupation, and symptoms were collected, and all patients received preoperative nasal examinations. AH and ITH were graded endoscopically. Chi-square test was done to evaluate the association between AH and ITH grades. RESULTS: The study showed male predominance (68.0%) with a mean age of 22.98 ± 8.23 years. Common symptoms included snoring (85.3%) and post-nasal discharge (74.7%). Most of the patients demonstrated moderate-to-severe AH, with Grade III (40.0%) being the most common. ITH was also prevalent, with 66.7% exhibiting Grades II and III. The severity of ITH increased progressively with higher adenoid grades, revealing a statistically significant association between the severity of AH and ITH (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The patients with chronic NO have a high prevalence of AH and ITH, and both are significantly associated.