Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Eustachian Tube Disorders in US Children and Adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the association between active, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and the prevalence of eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) in the U.S. pediatric population.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional.

SETTING: U.S. representative demographic and audiometric data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES);2005-2010.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study consisted of 2,977 children aged 12-19 years. ETD was defined as middle ear pressure <100mm H20. ETS was defined as non-active smoking in individuals with serum cotinine over the limit of detection (≥0.015 ng/mL) and <10 ng/mL(N = 1559).

RESULTS: The prevalence of ETD was 6.1%. After multivariate adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, education level, ethnicity, or having a cold, sinus problem or earache during the last 24 hours, compared to unexposed children, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of ETD for those exposed to ETS ages 12-15 in the first, second and third tertile of cotinine concentrations were, respectively, 1.38 (0.53-3.60), 0.99 (0.53-3.60) and 2.67 (1.12-6.34). Similarly, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of ETD for those exposed to ETS ages 16-19 in the first, second and third tertile of cotinine concentrations were, respectively, 1.28 (0.48-3.41), 0.99 (0.40-2.48) and 2.86 (1.19-6.88).

CONCLUSION: These data suggest that children and adolescents exposed to high concentrations of ETS may have an increased prevalence of ETD.