鼻息肉的患病率很难估计。处于亚临床阶段的鼻息肉可能没有任何临床症状,其诊断需要通过鼻内镜检查。另外,由于三分之一的慢性鼻-鼻窦炎伴鼻息肉患者即使存在鼻部症状也不会到医院就诊,这样导致难于获得准确的流行病学资料。[1]Fokkens WJ, Lund VJ, Mullol J, et al. EPOS 2012: European position paper on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps 2012. A summary for otorhinolaryngologists. Rhinology. 2012;50:1-12.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22469599?tool=bestpractice.com据报道,在普通人群中鼻息肉的患病率:美国为4.2%,瑞士为2.7%。[3]Settipane GA, Chafee FH. Nasal polyps in asthma and rhinitis. A review of 6037 patients. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1977;59:17-21.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/833373?tool=bestpractice.com[4]Johansson L, Akerlund A, Holmberg K, et al. Prevalence of nasal polyps in adults: the Skovde population-based study. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2003;112:625-629.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12903683?tool=bestpractice.com《美国国家健康访问调查》的结果显示,慢性鼻-鼻窦炎患者占美国人口的14%-16%,其中鼻息肉占19%-36%。[5]Rosenfeld RM, Andes D, Bhattacharyya N, et al. Clinical practice guideline: adult sinusitis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007;137(suppl 3):S1-S31.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17761281?tool=bestpractice.com
发病率没有种族的偏向,但男性高于女性,并随年龄增长而升高。平均发病年龄约 42 岁。[1]Fokkens WJ, Lund VJ, Mullol J, et al. EPOS 2012: European position paper on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps 2012. A summary for otorhinolaryngologists. Rhinology. 2012;50:1-12.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22469599?tool=bestpractice.com与普通人群相比,鼻息肉在哮喘、囊性纤维化或阿司匹林耐受不良的患者中发病率更高。[6]Yung MW, Gould J, Upton GJ. Nasal polyposis in children with cystic fibrosis: a long-term follow-up study. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2002;111:1081-1086.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12498368?tool=bestpractice.com