Indianapolis, Indiana – October 11, 2025 – More than 35 million Americans struggle with chronic and acute sinus conditions each year, often facing misdiagnosis, unnecessary treatments, and diminished quality of life. To address this widespread health challenge, the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) presented multiple sessions on clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) at its AAO-HNSF 2025 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO. These presentations underscore the AAO-HNSF's commitment to providing evidence-based, actionable recommendations that improve patient outcomes and standardize quality care across the specialty.
Clinical practice guidelines serve as essential roadmaps for clinicians—translating complex research into clear treatment protocols that help patients receive the right care at the right time. By reducing guesswork and treatment variations, CPGs ensure that whether a patient seeks care in a rural clinic or urban hospital, they benefit from the same high-quality, evidence-based approach.
Surgical Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS), which was published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery earlier this year in May, was presented early on the Saturday program. With chronic rhinosinusitis affecting up to 16% of the U.S. population and leading to more than 14 million ambulatory visits annually, the panelists of this session addressed when surgery is warranted, the appropriate extent of surgical intervention, and the critical role of imaging and outcome measurement in managing medically refractory CRS. The guideline aims to identify quality improvement opportunities while minimizing surgical risks.
“Chronic rhinosinusitis doesn’t just affect the nose—it can influence a person’s general life. Patients can struggle with poor sleep, brain fog, depression, anxiety, and reduced productivity that ripples through their relationships and work or school performance,” said Jennifer J. Shin, MD, SM, Chair of the CPG Guideline Development Group in the May press release. “This CPG provides the guidance for developing the needed care pathways for patients who may undergo surgery for CRS, based on current best evidence, such as systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized control trials, as well as observational studies when these were more apt for specific clinical research questions.”
For the estimated 50 million Americans affected by rhinosinusitis conditions, these guidelines represent a critical step toward ending the cycle of trial-and-error treatments, repeated doctor visits, and prolonged suffering that too often characterizes sinus disease management.
The Clinical Practice Guideline Adult Sinusitis Update, which was published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery earlier this year in July, was also presented on Saturday. This updated guideline focuses on improving diagnostic accuracy for rhinosinusitis, which affects approximately 12% of adults in the United States. The panelists of this session shared with attendees the evidence-based recommendations for differentiating between acute bacterial rhinosinusitis, viral infections, and chronic rhinosinusitis, while promoting appropriate use of therapies and ancillary testing.
“With sinusitis affecting about one in eight adults in the United States each year, this CPG update empowers both patients and their healthcare providers with evidence-based recommendations that can lead to better outcomes,” said Spencer C. Payne, MD, Chair of the Guideline Update Group in the press release.
As healthcare systems nationwide grapple with rising costs and variable quality, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines offer a proven solution—reducing unnecessary procedures, preventing complications, and ensuring that medical decisions are grounded in rigorous science rather than regional practice patterns or outdated protocols. The AAO-HNSF's commitment to developing and disseminating these guidelines, and including them on the Annual Meeting education program, positions otolaryngology as a leader in value-based, patient-centered care.
The AAO-HNSF Clinical Practice Guidelines are among the most downloaded and cited evidence-based articles in the Academy's journals, demonstrating their critical role in advancing the specialty.
>> Access all AAO-HNSF 2025 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO press releases by scrolling to the bottom of the page at https://www.entnet.org/about-us/newsroom/.
About the AAO-HNS/F
The AAO-HNS/F is one of the world’s largest organizations representing specialists who treat the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. Otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons diagnose and treat medical disorders that are among the most common affecting patients of all ages in the United States and around the world. Those medical conditions include chronic ear disease, hearing and balance disorders, hearing loss, sinusitis, snoring and sleep apnea, allergies, swallowing disorders, nosebleeds, hoarseness, dizziness, and tumors of the head and neck as well as aesthetic and reconstructive surgery and intricate micro-surgical procedures of the head and neck. The Academy has approximately 13,000 members. The AAO-HNS Foundation works to advance the art, science, and ethical practice of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery through education, research, and quality measurement.