(405) Proposal of Inner Ear Damage Index in Chronic Otitis Media

Introduction: Few studies assess the inner ear damage related with chronic otitis media. This study aimed to describe the inner ear damage severity in patients with Chronic Otitis Media (COM) using an index designed by the authors consisting of three inner ear damage related symptoms.

Methods: Cross-sectional study that included 200 adults with COM and 22 healthy individuals who consulted to two otology-referral hospitals in Bogotá (Colombia) between August 2018 and August 2019. Audiometric results, clinical, socidemographic, and quality of life (Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire-12 ) assessments were collected. COM diagnosis was performed by two otologists. Bivariate, multivariate analysis and a Kruskal Wallis test were used to assess the correlations. An index for inner ear damage severity was designed based on the presence of dizziness, tinnitus, and sensorineural hearing loss.

Results: Factors associated with higher severity scores in the inner ear damage index were age (aOR=1.03; 95%CI: 1.01-1.05), high socioeconomic status (aOR=0.15; 95%CI: 0.05-0.41), body mass index (aOR=1.08; 95%CI: 1.02-1.14), ear discharge due to upper respiratory infections (aOR=1.88; 95%CI: 1.06-3.34), and the speech discrimination values. Median differences between no inner damage-mild damage and severe damage were 29 points in the COMQ-12 score for “Disease severity” and 25.5 points for the total score.

Conclusions: Patients with higher scores in the inner ear damage index presented worse quality of life outcomes. This highlights the need to focus on these clinical symptoms when evaluating chronic otitis media.