Simas Vini, Hing Wayne, Rathbone Evelyne, Pope Rodney, Climstein Mike
Water Based Research Unit, Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, 2 Promethean Way, Gold Coast, QLD, 4226, Australia.
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2021 May 15;13(1):52. doi: 10.1186/s13102-021-00281-5.
Surfing is a popular sport in Australia, accounting for nearly 10% of the population. External auditory exostosis (EAE), also referred to as surfer's ear, is recognized as a potentially serious complication of surfing. Cold water (water temperature below 19 °C) is a commonly cited risk factor, with prevalence of EAE in cold water surfers ranging from 61 to 80%. However, there is a paucity of studies reporting the prevalence of EAE in surfers exposed to water temperatures above 19 °C. With mean water temperature ranging from 19 °C to 28 °C, the Gold Coast region of Australia provides the ideal environment to assess the main goal of this study: to assess the prevalence and severity of EAE in warm water surfers.
Eligible participants were surfers living and surfing on the Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia). Currently active surfers over 18 years of age, surfing year-round, with a minimum of five consecutive years of surfing experience were recruited to participate. Included individuals were asked to complete a questionnaire and underwent bilateral otoscopy.
A total of 85 surfers were included, with mean age 52.1 years (standard deviation [SD] ±12.6 years) and mean surfing experience of 35.5 years (SD ±14.7 years). Nearly two-thirds of participants (65.9%) had regular otological symptoms, most commonly water trapping (66%), hearing loss (48.2%), and cerumen impaction (35.7%). Less than one-fifth of the surfers (17.7%) reported regular use of protective equipment for EAE. The overall prevalence of exostosis was 71.8%, with most of the individuals having bilateral lesions (59%) and a mild grade (grade 1, 47.5%). There was insufficient evidence for any significant associations between the main outcomes (presence and severity of EAE) and factors related to age, surfing experience, winter exposure, surfing ability, symptoms, and use of protective equipment.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study assessing EAE in surfers exposed to warm waters (above 19 °C). The prevalence of 71.8% highlights the high prevalence of the condition in the surfing population, regardless of water temperature. Future research should focus on ways to prevent EAE.
冲浪在澳大利亚是一项受欢迎的运动，参与人数占总人口近10%。外耳道外生骨疣（EAE），也被称为冲浪者耳，被认为是冲浪运动一种潜在的严重并发症。冷水（水温低于19°C）是一个普遍提及的风险因素，冷水冲浪者中EAE的患病率在61%至80%之间。然而，很少有研究报告水温高于19°C的冲浪者中EAE的患病率。澳大利亚黄金海岸地区平均水温在19°C至28°C之间，为评估本研究的主要目标提供了理想环境：评估温水冲浪者中EAE的患病率和严重程度。
符合条件的参与者是居住在澳大利亚昆士兰州黄金海岸并在该地区冲浪的人。招募年龄超过18岁、全年冲浪且至少有连续五年冲浪经验的现役冲浪者参与。纳入的个体被要求填写一份问卷并接受双侧耳镜检查。
共纳入85名冲浪者，平均年龄52.1岁（标准差[SD]±12.6岁），平均冲浪经验35.5年（SD±14.7年）。近三分之二的参与者（65.9%）有耳部常见症状，最常见的是耳内积水（66%）、听力损失（4见8.2%）和耵聍堵塞（35.7%）。不到五分之一的冲浪者（17.7%）报告经常使用预防EAE的防护装备。外生骨疣的总体患病率为71.8%，大多数人有双侧病变（59%）且程度较轻（1级，47.5%）。没有足够证据表明主要结果（EAE的存在和严重程度）与年龄、冲浪经验、冬季冲浪时长、冲浪能力、症状及防护装备使用等因素之间存在任何显著关联。
据我们所知，这是第一项评估水温高于19°C的冲浪者中EAE的研究。71.8%的患病率凸显了无论水温如何，该病症在冲浪人群中的高发性。未来研究应聚焦于预防EAE的方法。
