Environmental contributions to otitis media requiring tympanostomy tubes. (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Padia, Reema; Alt, Jeremiah A.; Curtin, Karen; Muntz, Harlan R.; Orlandi, Richard R.; Berger, Justin; Meier, Jeremy D.
• Is Part Of: International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology. Volume 101(2017:Oct.)
• Page Start: 97
• Page End: 101
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: Otitis media -- Genetics -- Tympanostomy tubes -- Environmental factors; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Oto-rhino-laryngologie -- Périodiques; Pédiatrie -- Périodiques; 618.9209751
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2017.07.035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-5876

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Otitis media requiring tympanostomy tubes (OMwTT) is a prevalent disease process that has been previously shown to have a strong familial link. The impact from the environmental versus genetic contributions to this link is unknown. The objective was to determine the environmental involvement in the development of OMwTT. Methods: Using an extensive genealogical database linked to medical records, we evaluated the risk of OMwTT in children of probands as compared to children of controls, individually matched 5:1 on sex and birth year, from a conditional logistic regression model. The model included adjustments for geographic and socioeconomic environmental risk factors mapped to residence location of study subjects within 63 small health statistical areas of ∼33, 500 persons each. Results: 37, 814 case probands diagnosed with OMwTT and 181, 339 controls were included in our analysis. Children of probands with OMwTT had an overall 2.5× higher risk of also having OMwTT as compared to the children of controls ( p < 10 −9 ), independent of environmental factors (PM2.5 [particulate matter] air pollution, education level of parents, and density of primary care providers). Conclusion: After accounting for geographic and socioeconomic differences that may influence risk between cases and controls, our findings suggest evidence of a genetic predisposition in families of OMwTT patients. Further characterization of high-risk pedigrees is needed for future genomic studies.