Impact of nasal conditions on chronic otitis media: a cross-sectional study in Koreans.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the relationship between pathological nasal conditions and pathological middle ear conditions on a large-scale epidemiological basis, conducted as a cross-sectional study at the population level using Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

In a retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from the KNHANES (2008-2012), which used a stratified, multi-stage, probability-cluster sampling method in a rolling sampling survey of South Korean citizens.

RESULTS

The prevalences of nasal and middle ear pathologies were evaluated. Chronic postnasal drip, chronic hypertrophic rhinitis, and nasal polyps were correlated with the presence of middle ear pathologies; allergic rhinitis was negatively correlated. The prevalences of chronic otitis media and septal deviation showed no relationship. Only nasal polyps showed a tendency to be associated with cholesteatomatous otitis media in patients with COM.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate the need for a nasal assessment when evaluating COM. Additionally, correction of nasal pathologies may be useful with the surgical treatment of COM to improve patient success rates and satisfaction.