Pediatric otolaryngologic conditions: Racial and socioeconomic disparities in the United States

Abstract

2b Laryngoscope, 127:746-752, 2017.

Do demographic disparities exist in the diagnosis and surgical management of otitis media?

“…We did, however, find a disparity in the frequency of diagnosis of OM between non‐Hispanic and Hispanic children, despite no disparity found in the actual treatment of diagnosed children. These findings are similar to the findings from Shay et al, which showed that black and Hispanic children were less likely to be identified or diagnosed with frequent ear infections, hay fever, streptococcal pharyngitis, or sinusitis as compared to white children …”

“…The disparities in healthcare have garnered significant attention and have been well documented in recent years. Disparities across different racial and ethnic groups have been well documented across the spectrum—including multiple medical specialties for allergy and atopic diseases, cardiac disease, cancer diagnoses, and end‐stage disease with need for organ transplantation—as well as within pediatric otolaryngology in the areas of sleep disordered breathing, ear infections, airway, allergy, and chronic rhinosinusitis . The patterns of healthcare utilization differ across groups.…”

Impact of sinonasal disease on depression, sleep duration, and productivity among adults in the United States

“…The present study finds a statistically significant lower rate of AR diagnosis among Asians, African Americans, and Hispanics relative to white adults. While these results parallel those found in Shay et al's pediatric study, they differ from those found by Chen et al Namely, Chen et al found that Asians had an elevated odds ratio of hay fever relative to white adults. Additionally, the study reported no difference in AR prevalence between African Americans and white adults .…”

“…Finally, this study highlights a few of the complex socioeconomic and ethnic disparities inherent in AR and sinusitis. There are few population studies of socioeconomic variation among adults with AR . The present study finds a statistically significant lower rate of AR diagnosis among Asians, African Americans, and Hispanics relative to white adults.…”

Healthcare disparities in pediatric otolaryngology: A systematic review

“…Disparities classified as general or representing a mix of different subspecialties were noted in eight of 61 (13.1%) studies. For example, a large cross‐sectional analysis revealed ear infections, streptococcal pharyngitis, hay fever, and sinusitis to be less likely identified in black or Hispanic compared to white patients . Another particularly intriguing study found patients with Medicaid compared to private insurance were significantly less likely to obtain an otolaryngology appointment for obstructive sleep apnea or bilateral chronic otitis media and had significantly longer wait times when an appointment was granted .…”