Kudrjavcev T, Schoenberg B S
Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol Suppl. 1979 Sep-Oct;88(5 Pt 2 Suppl 60):88-98. doi: 10.1177/00034894790880s509.
Review of the literature indicates that: a) otitis media is a common disorder with risk being highest in the pre- and early school years, b) no marked differences in sex distribution of incidence exist, c) frequent recurrences are the hallmark of this disease, and d) mild hearing deficit lasting for months is not uncommon. A retrospective study in a defined population is suggested as an initial effort to investigate the proposed associations between developmental disability and hearing loss, developmental disability and history of otitis media, and finally, hearing loss and history of otitis media. Such an approach, however, a) could not determine the absolute risk of developmental disability in children with otitis media, and b) would underestimate the frequency of otitis media, since occult otitis media would not be thus identified. The determination of an accurate incidence of otitis media and of the absolute risk of developmental disability in children with otitis media calls for a prospective study. Such an investigation is likely to be justified only as a part of a collaborative study designed to measure multiple outcomes from a limited number of antecedents.
a) 中耳炎是一种常见疾病，在学前和小学早期风险最高；b) 发病率的性别分布无明显差异；c) 频繁复发是该疾病的标志；d) 持续数月的轻度听力缺陷并不少见。建议在特定人群中进行回顾性研究，作为初步尝试，以调查发育障碍与听力损失之间、发育障碍与中耳炎病史之间，以及最终听力损失与中耳炎病史之间的拟议关联。然而，这种方法 a) 无法确定中耳炎患儿发育障碍的绝对风险，b) 会低估中耳炎的发病率，因为隐匿性中耳炎无法通过这种方式识别。要确定中耳炎的准确发病率以及中耳炎患儿发育障碍的绝对风险，需要进行前瞻性研究。只有作为旨在从有限数量的前因中测量多种结果的合作研究的一部分，这样的调查才可能是合理的。
