Black N
Lancet. 1984 Apr 14;1(8381):835-7. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(84)92280-3.
Analysis of routine hospital statistics confirms anecdotal reports of an epidemic of surgery for glue ear. The surgical rate rose by 74% in Oxford Region between 1975 and 1981. The peak ages for surgery are 5-7 years, and the rates are higher in boys than in girls (1.4:1.00). The relative risk is high in social class I (1.16) and low in social class V (0.61). Although the prevalence of glue ear is hard to ascertain, the current surgical epidemic probably reflects an increase in apparent prevalence rather than a real increase in morbidity.
对医院常规统计数据的分析证实了有关胶耳手术流行的传闻报道。1975年至1981年间，牛津地区的手术率上升了74%。手术的高峰年龄为5至7岁，男孩的手术率高于女孩（1.4:1.00）。社会阶层I的相对风险较高（1.16），社会阶层V的相对风险较低（0.61）。尽管胶耳的患病率难以确定，但当前的手术流行可能反映出明显患病率的增加，而非发病率的实际上升。
