The Bayesian approach to the evaluation of risk factors in acute and recurrent acute otitis media.
A multivariant modelling method was used to analyse the risk, associated with 22 different factors, of contracting acute otitis media (AOM) in a prospective cohort of 1294 urban children followed up to the age of 17-32 (mean 25) months. By far the most important risk factor was the caring of the child at a day-care centre. The importance of this factor further increased with increasing recurrence of the attacks. Next in order came the existence of sibling(s) with AOM attacks during the follow-up. Prolongation of breastfeeding increased the protection against AOM during the first year of life. The frequency of AOM attacks was lowest around midsummer and highest in early winter.
Sipilä
M
M
Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland.
Karma
P
P
Pukander
J
J
Timonen
M
M
Kataja
M
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking