N-acetylcysteine (NAC), known to have mucolytic and antioxidant effects, is widely used to treat respiratory diseases and manage post-surgery pulmonary complications. It is also administered as a treatment for acetaminophen addiction and a preventive measure for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). While NAC inhalation is commonly used for mucolytic purpose for various respiratory disease because it has relatively less side effects compared to oral or injection administrations, it is more used as a part of allopathy than as a major therapy. As a result, there is neither enough relevant clinical data nor specific reference in treatment guidelines. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the overall treatment effectiveness and safety of NAC inhalation compared with standard treatment, and to perform follow-up observations on administration cases, patient characteristics, and adverse events of NAC inhalation used in real clinical settings.
Study Methodology : 12 medical institutions in Korea that meet the inclusion criteria are cluster-randomized (test sites : control sites =1:1). Information about randomization is disclosed to both investigators and subjects. This means both study center investigators and subjects will be aware of the purpose of this study as well as the result of randomization (whether the subjects will receive NAC inhalation or not) from the beginning of the study. Investigators shall obtain voluntary consent for participation in this research from patients who visit their medical institutions with symptomatic acute rhinosinusitis within the study duration. Patients who provided a written consent for the use of their personal information and who satisfy inclusion/exclusion criteria will be given a study enrollment number and available data on these patients will be collected among the predefined study relevant data in the case reports until Day 14 (±3 days) from the starting day of treatment. Statistical Analysis Methods (Analysis of primary endpoints) : Obtain descriptive statistics (average, standard deviation, median, minimum, quartile, and maximum) for the change in the total score of the investigator's symptomatic severity assessment by treatment group on Day 14 compared with each time point and baseline (Day 0). Paired t-test shall be used to check intra-group change difference and Two sample t-test shall be used to check inter-group change difference.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
294
The Catholic University of Korea, Yeouido ST. Mary's Hospital
Seoul, South Korea
Change in the Total Score of the Investigator's Symptomatic Severity Assessment (Day 0, Day 14)
Assessed symptoms: nasal congestion, nasal/postnasal discharge, facial pain/sense of facial pressure, reduction/loss of smell are rated in four categories \[0=no symptom, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe\] The total score is sum of the investigator's symptomatic assessment scores (on nasal congestion, nasal/postnasal discharge, facial pain/sense of facial pressure, and reduction/loss of smell); the maximum total score is 12 and minimum total score is 0
Time frame: Day 0(enrollment) and Day 14 after treatment for rhinosinusitis
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