Prevalence of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction in the US Elderly Population

Abstract

Objective To investigate the prevalence of eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) in elderly adults in the United States and its association with other upper aerodigestive inflammatory processes. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Population based. Subjects and Methods In total, 147,805 patients without malignancy were compared to 13,804 demographically matched patients with malignancy of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) by querying the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)–Medicare linked database for patients aged 66 to 99 years between 2003 and 2011. The prevalence of ETD and inflammatory diseases among these patients was compared. Association between ETD, other upper aerodigestive inflammatory processes, and UADT malignancies was evaluated. Results The prevalence of ETD was 5.44% among patients without malignancy and 9.08% in those with cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.73; 95% CI, 1.63-1.84). Patients with ETD in the control population were more likely (OR, 95% CI) to be diagnosed with chronic rhinitis (5.00, 4.70-5.33), chronic sinusitis (4.20, 3.98-4.43), allergic rhinitis (4.27, 4.08-4.47), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (2.42, 2.31-2.53). Patients with ETD and chronic rhinitis (1.43, 1.24-1.65), chronic sinusitis (1.57, 1.38-1.78), and acute otitis media (1.33, 1.08-1.65) were associated with higher rates of UADT malignancy. Conclusion Over 5% of patients older than 65 in the United States are diagnosed with ETD in the absence of UADT malignancy. Associations between ETD and chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and GERD in the absence of UADT malignancy suggest that some patients may benefit from treatment of inflammatory disease as a cause of ETD.

Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Among the Public in Taif, Saudi Arabia

“…In the USA, Shan et al [ 8 ] estimated that the overall prevalence of ETD among adults in was nearly 4.6%, consistent with a total of 11 million affected individuals. The prevalence was slightly higher among the elderly (5.4%) and among patients with malignancy (9.8%) [ 5 ]. A higher prevalence was estimated by Newman et al [ 9 ] who reported that the mean score of ETDQ-7 score for temporomandibular joint disorder patients was 24.5 ± 12.5.…”

“…Also, it has long-term impacts, like communication difficulties and decreased productivity, which can contribute to low quality of life [ 2 ]. In adults, ETD can occur alone or in association with a variety of inflammatory illnesses of the aerodigestive tract [ 5 ].…”

Association of a standardized measure of nasopharyngeal inflammation with Eustachian tube dysfunction questionnaire score

“…Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction (ETD) is estimated to account for over 2 million ambulatory visits in the United States each year with a prevalence ranging from 1% to 5%. [1][2][3] Although the past decade has seen growing interest in treatment of this condition, there have been few advances in refining the evaluation and diagnosis of ETD. 4 Some reports suggest that nasopharyngeal inflammation may be a contributing factor to ETD and has been associated with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).…”

“…Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction (ETD) is estimated to account for over 2 million ambulatory visits in the United States each year with a prevalence ranging from 1% to 5% 1–3 . Although the past decade has seen growing interest in treatment of this condition, there have been few advances in refining the evaluation and diagnosis of ETD 4 .…”

Interpretation of Normal and Abnormal Tympanogram Findings in Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

“…E ustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a common entity affecting .4 million patients in the United States annually, with a limited but growing evidence base describing this condition. [1][2][3] Numerous treatment options have been proposed, but strong evidence is lacking to make definitive judgments on the most appropriate approach. [4][5][6][7] Impedance audiometry, also known as tympanometry, has been widely employed as an objective assessment of eustachian tube function, as reflected by the behavior of the tympanic membrane when subjected to brief changes in ambient pressure.…”