title: Allergic rhinitis and allergy are risk factors for otitis media with effusion: A meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We systematically reviewed the associations between allergic rhinitis or allergy and otitis media with effusion, by reference to published data.
  
  
  METHODS
  A meta-analysis of case-controlled studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five databases (Pubmed, Highwire, Medline, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure) were searched for relevant studies in the English language published prior to November 12, 2015.
  Studies with clearly defined experimental and control groups, in which the experimental groups had otitis media with effusion together with allergic rhinitis or allergy, were selected.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a meta-analysis on data from the identified cross-sectional and case-controlled studies using fixed- or random-effects models (depending on heterogeneity). We used Reviewer Manager 5.3 software to this end.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in patients with otitis media with effusion and the control groups differed significantly in three studies (P<0.00001), as did the prevalence of allergy (in six studies; P=0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergic rhinitis and allergy appear to be risk factors for otitis media with effusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye Ear Nose & Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China; Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye Ear Nose & Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China; Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye Ear Nose & Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye Ear Nose & Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China; Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: sfhanzao@163.com.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye Ear Nose & Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China; Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: chifanglu@126.com.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cong
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye Ear Nose & Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China; Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye Ear Nose & Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye Ear Nose & Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye Ear Nose & Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of ENT-Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital of Pyong Yang Medical University, Pyong Yang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Allergy; Meta-analysis; Otitis media with effusion