title: Prevalence of otolaryngologic diseases in South Korea: data from the Korea national health and nutrition examination survey 2008.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of otolaryngologic diseases in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained data from the 2008 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES), which were cross-sectional surveys of the civilian, non-institutionalized population of South Korea (n=4,930). A field survey team that included an otolaryngologist, nurses, and interviewers moved with a mobile examination unit and performed otolaryngologic interviews and physical examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of subjective hearing loss, tinnitus, preauricular fistua, tympanic membrane perforation, and cholesteatoma were 11.97%, 20.27%, 2.08%, 1.60%, and 1.18%, respectively. Dizziness and vestibular dysfunction were common among Korean adults, since 23.33% of the participants reported symptoms of dizziness or imbalance, and the prevalence of vestibular dysfunction was 3.86%. The prevalence of nasal diseases was relatively high, as the prevalence of allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and a deviated nasal septum were 28.01%, 7.12%, and 42.94%, respectively. Subjective dysphonia was found in 6.60% of the participants, and the prevalence of subjective dysphonia increased with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first nation-wide epidemiologic study to assess the prevalence of otolaryngologic diseases by both the Korean Otolaryngologic Society and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Considering the high prevalence of otolaryngologic diseases in Korea, the results call for additional studies to better prevent and manage otolaryngologic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yang-Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Seung-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kyoung Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hong Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jeong-Whun
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Il Joon
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Chae-Seo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Kyung Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong-Il
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Seung Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ja-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Yoon Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Kun Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Pyo
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Taek
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chul Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee