Search

Objective: To determine age-related risk factors for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with asthma. Methods: Data were obtained from a national survey of non-hospitalized civilians conducted by the Korean Center for Disease Control and Prevention. CRS diagnosis was based on the guidelines of the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2020. Asthma was judged based on whether the patient had been diagnosed with asthma in the past. Of the 45,811 survey participants, 26,335 were included in the cross-sectional study. Participants included in the study were divided into the control, CRS, and CRS with asthma groups. Age-related risk factors were analyzed in patients aged < 60 or > 60 years. Univariate logistic analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between groups. Risk factors included age, sex, household income, residence, education level, occupation, and body mass index (BMI). Results: Education level (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.342, P =.0003), BMI (OR: 1.09, P =.0082), and total IgE (TIgE) levels (OR: 5.582, P =.003) were significantly different between the control and the CRS with asthma group. Education level (OR: 0.478, P =.0016) and TIgE levels (OR: 4, P =.0218) were significantly different between the CRS and CRS with asthma groups under 60 years of age. BMI (OR: 1.087, P =.0443; OR: 1.104, P =.0224) showed a significant difference between all three groups with age > 60 years. Conclusion: Progression to CRS with asthma is influenced by education level, occupation, and TIgE levels in patients under 60 years of age. BMI was the only influencing factor associated with the progression to CRS with asthma in those aged > 60 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with multi-canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (MC-BPPV). Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 927 patients with BPPV who were admitted to our hospital between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019. The clinical data of all patients were collected. The Dix-Hallpike, straight head-hanging, and supine Roll tests were performed in all patients. The nystagmus was recorded using videonystagmography. The clinical characteristics of patients with MC-BPPV and single canal BPPV (SC-BPPV) was analyzed and compared. Results: Among 927 patients included, 49 (5.29%) patients had MC-BPPV, 878 (94.71%) patients had SC-BPPV. There were significant differences in the male to female ratio (1:3.90 vs 1:1.81, P <.05), mean age (62.47±12.51 vs 59.04±13.72, P <.05), as well as the ratio of cupulolithiasis to canalithiasis (1:1.45 vs 1:4.78, P <.01) between patients with MC-BPPV and SC-BPPV. The frequency of involvement of PC, HC, and AC were involved for 66 (67.35%), 23 (23.47%), and 9 (9.18%) times, respectively, in patients with MC-BPPV, which were involved in 581 (66.17%), 281 (32.0%), and 16 (1.82%) patients, respectively, in patients with SC-BPPV. No significant difference was found in the frequency of involvement of PC and HC between patients with MC-BPPV and SC-BPPV, while there was significant difference in the frequency of AC involvement between 2 groups (P <.01). Ipsilateral PC-HC-BPPV (n = 18) and bilateral PC-BPPV (n=19) were the most common among patients with MC-BPPV. Twenty-six (53.06%) patients had ipsilateral MC-BPPV, 23 (46.94%) had bilateral MC-BPPV. Of the 26 patients with ipsilateral MC-BPPV, 7 patients combined with unilateral peripheral vestibular disorder. Conclusion: Patients with MC-BPPV had a significantly older mean age at disease onset and a higher proportion of females compared with patients with SC-BPPV. Cupulolithiasis was more common in MC-BPPV. AC involvement was also much more common in MC-BPPV than in SC-BPPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of different doses and forms of corticosteroids in the treatment of postinfectious olfactory dysfunction and to specify the factors related to the curative effects. Methods: The medical records of patients diagnosed with postinfectious olfactory dysfunction from January 2018 to May 2019 were reviewed. All patients received different doses of oral corticosteroids for 12 days or inhaled corticosteroids for 1 month. Results: A review of the records of 43 patients showed that the mean follow-up time was 6.66 months, and the overall effective rate of treatment was 48.8%. Postinfectious olfactory dysfunction exhibited distinct seasonality, with the highest incidence in March. The curative effect was significantly related to the olfactory discrimination threshold at the first consultation (P =.022), but not significantly associated with age (P =.325), sex (P =.924), duration of disease (P =.526), follow-up time (P =.489), or treatment program (P =.330). Conclusions: Different doses and forms of corticosteroids showed no significant difference in the therapeutic effect on postinfectious olfactory dysfunction. The olfactory discrimination threshold at the first consultation was the most important factor influencing the prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often complain of taste dysfunction. The prevalent taste dysfunction among patients with CKD predisposes them to malnutrition, poor quality of life, and worsen disease prognoses. To appropriately treat the taste dysfunction in this group of patients, it's imperative that factors that predict taste dysfunction and its severity are identified for prompt treatment. Aim: To identify factors associated with taste dysfunction and its severity among patients with CKD. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based case–control study of adult patients with CKD at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. The control group was made up of age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers with no clinical and laboratory evidence of CKD. Relevant clinical and social data obtained include demographics, symptoms, and signs of taste dysfunction and its risk factors. The 4 basic taste modalities namely sweet, sour, bitter, and salt taste senses of the participants were tested with validated "taste strips." Factors that predict taste dysfunction were identified among the spectrum of the disease. Results: There were 100 patients with CKD and 100 healthy controls, age ranges between 19 and 86 years (mean ± standard deviation [SD] = 46.3 ± 13.9 years) and 20 and 85 years (mean ± SD = 43.4 ± 14.9 years), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between cases and control gender distribution (P =.57). Hypogeusia was found in 27.0% of patients with CKD, while total taste function score of all the control was within normal range. Increasing duration of CKD was identified as a predictor of taste dysfunction among patients with CKD (odds ratio: 4.889, P =.038). The stages of CKD had no statistically significant relationship with the severity of taste dysfunction (P =.629). Conclusion: The prevalence of taste dysfunction among patients with CKD was high and this showed significant correlation with increasing duration of CKD; in contrast, the severity of CKD is not significant in the development of taste dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To study the effects of age on the olfactory function recovery of chronic rhinosinusitis patients after endoscopic sinus surgery and related risk factors. Methods: A total of 176 chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients enrolled from February 2017 to October 2019 were divided into child, youth, middle-aged, and elderly groups. Their baseline data, T&T olfactory test score, visual analogue scale (VAS) olfactory score, sinus computed tomography (CT) Lund-Mackay score, and Lund-Kennedy score were compared. Based on postoperative olfactory function, they were divided into good and poor improvement groups. Results: Complication with nasal polyps, allergic rhinitis history, and sinus surgery history had significant differences among patients of different ages (P <.05). Three months after surgery, T&T olfactory, VAS olfactory, Lund-Mackay, and Lund-Kennedy scores all rose with increasing age, with significant differences between any 2 groups (P <.05). The improvement of postoperative olfactory function became poorer with aging (P <.05). T&T and VAS olfactory scores had significant positive correlations with Lund-Mackay and Lund-Kennedy scores (P <.001). Age, preoperative Lund-Mackay and Lund-Kennedy scores, complication with nasal polyps, allergic rhinitis history, sinus surgery history, and postoperative complications were risk factors for the poor improvement of postoperative olfactory function. Doctor-directed treatment was a protective factor for good improvement. Conclusions: The improvement of olfactory function of CRS patients after endoscopic sinus surgery declines with aging. Age, preoperative Lund-Mackay and Lund-Kennedy scores, complication with nasal polyps, allergic rhinitis history, sinus surgery history, and postoperative complications are risk factors for the poor improvement of postoperative olfactory function. Doctor-directed treatment is a protective factor for good improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study was performed to test the clinical applicability of a new taste test—the waterless empirical taste test (WETT). Methods: Sixty healthy volunteers and 20 patients with oral cancer were enrolled. They all received the conventional solution-based whole-mouth suprathreshold taste test (WMTT), which contained sucrose, citric acid, sodium chloride, and caffeine solutions for tastants, along with the WETT. The WETT used plastic strips to deliver tastants. The strip was embedded with sucrose, citric acid, sodium chloride, caffeine, or monosodium glutamate taste enhancer in 4 different concentrations. Each strip was tested twice. Thirty of the healthy volunteers received the WETT again to measure a retest reliability. Case–control matching by age and gender was used to compare the scores of WMTT and WETT between 13 healthy volunteers and 13 patients with oral cancer. Results: The correlation was not high between the WMTT and WETT (r < 0.7) whether in the healthy volunteers or in patients with oral cancer. In terms of retest reliability of the WETT, the mean total score was 24.9 ± 7.3 for the first test and 25.8 ± 8.4 for the second test. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.85 (P <.001). When case–control matching was performed, the WMTT scores were not significantly different between 13 healthy volunteers and 13 patients with oral cancer (P =.266), but the WETT scores were significantly lower in patients with oral cancer (P =.017). Conclusion: This study showed that the results of the WETT were not highly correlated with those of the WMTT. However, its retest reliability was high, and its results were significantly different between the healthy volunteers and the patients with oral cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The authors sought to investigate patient preferences on physician and medical student attire in the outpatient otolaryngology setting. Methods: A prospective sample of 50 (23 males, 27 females) patients presenting to an otolaryngology clinic in a North American teaching hospital, Boston, MA, were included. Patients were seen by a researcher wearing a white coat and either (1) a shirt and tie or (2) surgical scrubs, then completed a Likert-style survey evaluating feelings of trust, comfort, and professionalism. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: Most patients (82%, 41/50) believed that attire was important. Men and older patients were significantly more likely to believe attire was important (P =.01 and.005, respectively). Patients were significantly more comfortable when seen by a provider wearing a shirt and tie compared to scrubs (U = 109.5, P =.021); however, there was no difference in feelings of trust or professionalism (P =.5* and.6*, respectively). Conclusions: Physician attire is important for patients presenting to otolaryngology clinic. Patients favored a white coat with a shirt and tie. Level of Evidence: NA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to conduct a study to evaluate the relation between otolaryngology-specific symptoms and computed tomography findings in ambulatory care COVID-19 patients. Patient and Methods: The study was conducted with medical records of 987 (82%) patients with confirmed COVID-19 virus via real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction between March 11, 2020, and April 21, 2020. Patients were divided into 2 groups as computed tomography (CT)-negative and CT-positive groups considering the presence of the CT findings depicting COVID-19 disease. Results: The mean age was significantly higher in CT-positive group than CT-negative group (41.53 ± 12.82 vs 36.61 ± 11.81, P <.001). Cough and shortness of the breath were observed with a significantly higher rate in CT-positive group than that of CT-negative group (44% vs 29.9%, P =.001 and 18.4% vs 9.7%, P =.002, respectively). Conclusions: In conclusion, advanced age, cough, and shortness of breath could be related to CT scan positivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Foreign bodies (FBs) in external auditory canal (EAC) can occur at any age but are especially common in children and adolescents. The aims of the study were to evaluate the clinical characteristics of EAC FBs in children and adolescents and to discuss their proper management. Methods: A retrospective medical chart review was performed on patients who were treated for EAC FBs in a tertiary referral center from January 2007 to December 2017. We investigated the parameters of age, sex, type of FB, sedation method, complications, and removal strategy. Results: Of 284 patients, 176 (62.0%) were male. Peak incidences were noted at the ages of 3 to 6 years and 17 to 18 years. The frequently observed FBs were insects, followed by air-gun pellets, cotton balls, marbles, and earrings. Forty-one (14.4%) EAC FBs were removed with the naked eye, while 243 (85.6%) were removed under microscope in the otolaryngology department. Of these patients, 23 (9.5%) were administered sedatives and 1 (4.1%) needed general anesthesia. During or after the removal procedure, 4 (15.5%) patients had complications of EAC abrasion or laceration (42, 14.8%), and tympanic membrane perforation (2, 0.7%). Conclusions: External auditory canal FB showed a distinct characteristic of incidence regarding age, related to removal strategies. Characteristics of FB must be considered for safe removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effect of autologous platelet-rich plasma gel (PRPG) on fat graft myringoplasty (FGM) in tympanic membrane perforations caused by chronic otitis media. Methods: This retrospective study involved 63 patients who underwent operations between 2015 and 2018. Fat graft myringoplasty was performed with the transcanal approach with and without the use of PRPG in the surgical field. The patients were classified into 2 groups: group A, which included 32 patients who underwent FGM with the use of autologous PRPG, and group B, which included 31 patients who underwent FGM alone. Tympanic membrane perforations were divided into 2 groups: small perforations (1-2 mm) in a single quadrant and large perforations (2-4 mm) in at least 2 quadrants. Results: Both groups were statistically matched regarding age and sex. The mean postoperative follow-up was 11.6 and 12.1 months for groups A and B, respectively. Four months postoperatively, the success rate of the graft in group A (100%) was significantly higher than that in group B (83.8%; P =.03). The preoperative and postoperative median air–bone gaps of the groups were similar (P =.653 and P =.198, respectively). No worsening of the air–bone gap was noted postoperatively in either group. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that autologous PRPG application during FGM allows for a higher success rate than FGM alone. Furthermore, the use of PRPG with FGM for large perforations increases the success rate. Further studies are needed to investigate the PRPG healing effect on other tympanic membrane perforation closure techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is rare in patients younger than 40 years. Many practitioners suspect HNSCC is a more aggressive disease in this age group, and perhaps increasing in incidence; however, there are scant and conflicting data to support this assertion. We sought to compare outcomes for young patients with non-human papillomavirus (HPV)–related HNSCC to those of older patients. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with HNSCC treated from 2004 to 2016 at 2 tertiary referral centers. Patients aged 18 to 40 with p16-negative HNSCC were included in the young patient cohort (n = 59). A randomly selected stage- and subsite-matched cohort aged 55 to 65 was analyzed for comparison (n = 114). Results: When considering all patients with HNSCC, patients younger than 40 were more likely to have oral tongue cancer (62.7%) compared to patients age 55 to 65 (16.9%). When an older patient cohort was stage- and subsite-matched to the young patient cohort, there were more never smokers (49.2% vs 17.5% of older patients, P <.01) and females (40.7% vs 24.6% of older patients, P =.028) in the young patient group. The young patient cohort had better average overall survival than the older group (14.4 vs 8.1 years, respectively, P =.02), but similar average disease-free survival (6.2 years vs 6.6 years, respectively, P =.67); 50.9% of young patients had tumors with adverse histologic features versus 42.0% of older patients (P =.28). The young patients demonstrated a superior average conditional survival after recurrence (9.8 years vs 3.2 years for older patients, P <.01). Conclusions: Despite the limitations of study design, these data suggest that young patients who develop non-HPV-related HNSCC tend to have similarly aggressive disease, but longer overall survival and better survival after recurrence. These findings may be attributable to better overall health as evidenced by fewer comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection occurred in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. To date, the analysis of fatal cases and the risk factors for death have rarely been reported. Methods: In this study, 220 adult patients with confirmed and suspected COVID-19 were enrolled. Clinical characteristics, laboratory data, treatments, and complications were compared between 168 survivors and 52 nonsurvivors. Univariable analysis and multivariable logistic regression were used to investigate the risk factors for mortality. Results: A total of 220 patients (168 were discharged and 52 died in the hospital) were enrolled in the study. The median age of all patients was 59.5 (47.0-69.0) years, and the median age of patients who died was significantly older than that of patients who survived (70.5 vs 56.0 years, respectively; P <.001). According to multivariate logistic regression, older age (odds ratio: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03-1.15; P =.001), initial Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score >2 (37.4, 9.4-148.0; P =.011), and respiratory rate >24 per minute (10.89, 1.47-80.67; P =.019) were independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusion: Clinical and laboratory parameters predicting poor prognosis including older age, baseline SOFA score >2, and respiratory rate >24 per minute were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]