Cystic fibrosis mutation classes in pediatric otitis media - Fickle or faulty?

Multi-institutional Assessment of Otitis Media Epidemiology Using Real-world Data

OBJECTIVES

To determine rates and risk factors of pediatric otitis media (OM) using real-world electronic health record (PEDSnet) data from January 2009 through May 2021.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Seven pediatric academic health systems that participate in PEDSnet.

METHODS

Children <6 months-old at time of first outpatient, Emergency Department, or inpatient visit were included and followed longitudinally. A time-to-event analysis was performed using a Cox proportional hazards model to estimate hazard ratios for OM incidence based on sociodemographic factors and specific health conditions.

RESULTS

The PEDSnet cohort included 910,265 children, 54.3% male, mean age (months) 1.3 [standard deviation (SD) 1.6] and mean follow up (years) 4.3 (SD 3.2). By age 3 years, 39.6% of children had evidence of one OM episode. OM rates decreased following pneumococcal-13 vaccination (PCV-13) and the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with young age, non-Hispanic Black/African American or Hispanic race/ethnicity, public insurance, higher family income, and male sex had higher incidence rates. Health conditions that increased OM risk included cleft palate [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 4.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.9-4.2], primary ciliary dyskinesia [aHR 2.5 (95% CI 1.8-3.5)], trisomy 21 [aHR 2.0 (95% CI 1.9-2.1)], atopic dermatitis [aHR 1.4 (95% CI 1.4-1.4)], and gastroesophageal reflux [aHR1.5 (95% CI 1.5-1.5)].

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately 20% of children by age 1 and 40% of children by age 3 years will have experienced an OM episode. OM rates decreased after PCV-13 and COVID-19. Children with abnormal ciliary function or craniofacial conditions, specifically cleft palate, carry the highest risk of OM.

[Possibilities of using recombinant human deoxyribonuclease I in otorhinolaryngology]

ANNOTATION

Dornase alfa (Pulmozyme, Tigerase) is a purified solution of recombinant human DNase, clinically developed for the treatment of pulmonary diseases in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The action of the drug is aimed at destroying the viscous secretion, rich in DNA strands of neutrophils, through their fragmentation, the density of the secretion decreases, and the aeration of the lower respiratory tract improves. The similarity of pathological processes with the formation of viscous exudate on the surface of the mucous membrane in diseases of the upper respiratory tract and ear initiated studies on the use of Dornase alpha in otorhinolaryngology.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The analysis of materials of domestic and foreign authors on the effectiveness of the use of the drug Dornase alfa in otorhinolaryngology was carried out.

RESULTS

The review included 132 patients (10 studies) in whom Dornase alfa was used to treat CF-associated nasal and paranasal sinus diseases. Analysis of the literature revealed only 3 studies, one of which consisted of two parts, examining the effect of Dornase alpha on middle ear exudate: two studies were demonstrated in an animal model; one - in vitro on samples of middle ear effusion which were aspirated through a myringotomy incision from patients with recurrent acute otitis media; and one in clinical 40 patients (40 ears) for hydrolysis of exudate in the tympanostomy tubes.

CONCLUSION

Analysis of studies on the use of Dornase alfa demonstrates an improvement in clinical symptoms in all patients with CF and chronic rhinosinusitis. In experimental studies on an animal model, as well as in vitro research on exudate from the middle ear, Dornase alfa has demonstrated high efficacy and safety. Dornase alfa is a drug with high potential, further research is needed for wider use in ENT practice, especially in otiatrics.