Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of omalizumab for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and to identify evidence gaps that will guide future research on omalizumab for CRSwNP.
Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Data sources: A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library on 13 October 2020.
Eligibility criteria: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing omalizumab with placebo, given for at least 16 weeks in adult patients with CRSwNP.
Data extraction and synthesis: Two independent authors screened search results, extracted data and assessed studies using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Data were pooled using the inverse-variance method and expressed as mean differences (MDs) with 95% CIs. Heterogeneity was assessed by the χ2 test and the I2 statistic.
Results: A total of four RCTs involving 303 participants were identified. When comparing omalizumab to placebo, there was a significant difference in Nasal Polyps Score (MD=-1.20; 95% CI -1.48 to -0.92), Nasal Congestion Score (MD=-0.67; 95% CI -0.86 to -0.48), Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (MD=-15.62; 95% CI -19.79 to -11.45), Total Nasal Symptom Score (MD=-1.84; 95% CI -2.43 to -1.25) and reduced need for surgery (risk ratio (RR)=5.61; 95% CI 1.99 to 15.81). Furthermore, there was no difference in the risk of serious adverse events ((RR=1.40; 95% CI 0.29 to 6.80), adverse events (RR=0.83; 95% CI 0.60 to 1.15) and rescue systemic corticosteroid (RR=0.52; 95% CI 0.17 to 1.61).
Conclusions: This was the first meta-analysis that identified omalizumab significantly improved endoscopic, clinical and patient-reported outcomes in adults with moderate to severe CRSwNP and it was safe and well tolerated.
Prospero registration number: CRD42020207639.
Keywords: adult otolaryngology; adverse events; clinical trials; endoscopic surgery.
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