The prevalence of chronic otitis media and its complication rates in teenagers and adult patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the annual complication rates of chronic otitis media (COM) and its management.


METHODS
Retrospective.


METHODS
Data were extracted from 3,223 adult patients, aged 15.1 years and older, under the diagnosis of COM from 1998 to 2007. Complications secondary to COM were identified in a total of 115 patients.


RESULTS
The incidence of COM in adults decreased from 407 to 145 cases per year (R(2) = 0.845, P < 0.001) from 1998 to 2007. The mean age of patients with COM increased from 44.67 to 49.43 years (R(2) = 0.896, P < 0.001). The prevalence of COM decreased considerably during the study period. However, the annual extracranial complication rate (R(2) = 0.109, P = 0.352) and intracranial rate (R(2) = 0.382, P = 0.057) did not reduce during the past 10 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The complication rate for COM remained steady in the past 10 years, regardless of the overall reduction in the prevalence of COM with use of antibiotics. A high index of suspicion and imaging studies for early identification are recommended. Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended, particularly for the elderly patients who are treated conservatively because of relatively poor general health conditions.
Lin
Yung Song
YS
Department of Otolaryngology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Taipei Medical University, Tainan County, Taiwan.
Lin
Li-Ching
LC
Lee
Fei-Peng
FP
Lee
Kuan Ji
KJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult