Impact of nasal conditions on chronic otitis media: a cross-sectional study in Koreans.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the relationship between pathological nasal conditions and pathological middle ear conditions on a large-scale epidemiological basis, conducted as a cross-sectional study at the population level using Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data.

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study.

METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from the KNHANES (2008-2012), which used a stratified, multi-stage, probability-cluster sampling method in a rolling sampling survey of South Korean citizens.

RESULTS: The prevalences of nasal and middle ear pathologies were evaluated. Chronic postnasal drip, chronic hypertrophic rhinitis, and nasal polyps were correlated with the presence of middle ear pathologies; allergic rhinitis was negatively correlated. The prevalences of chronic otitis media and septal deviation showed no relationship. Only nasal polyps showed a tendency to be associated with cholesteatomatous otitis media in patients with COM.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate the need for a nasal assessment when evaluating COM. Additionally, correction of nasal pathologies may be useful with the surgical treatment of COM to improve patient success rates and satisfaction.