Rise in Complications of acute otitis media during and after the Covid-19 Pandemic
Laryngo-Rhino-Otologie, vol. 103, pp. S298–S299
Abstract
Background After the lifting of nonpharmaceutical interventions during the Covid-19 Pandemic, clinical observation showed an increase in complications of acute otitis, followed by a rise in mastoidectomies performed. The aim of this study was to record the number of performed mastoidectomies over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic as an indicator for complications of an acute otitis media. Results The data of 24,824,763 german citizens during a period from 2014 until 2023 were analyzed. These patients were insured with 3 major german insurance companies. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of performed mastoidectomies dropped by 54% for children aged 0-6 and by 62% for children aged 7-18, compared to the years prior. For adults, there were 30% less mastoidectomies performed. After the lifting of most nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPI"s) a sharp increase in the number of mastoidectomies performed was seen. Thus, the number of mastoidectomies in small children increased by a factor of 6.1, compared to the data during the Covid-19 pandemic. For schoolchildren the increase was even larger by a factor of 8.7 while the yearly number of mastoidectomies in adults more than doubled (132%). Conclusion Under the NPI"s of the Covid-19 pandemic, a decrease in the number of mastoidectomies performed was seen, suggesting a lower incidence of complicated acute otitis. In contrast, a sharp increase in the incidence of complicated otitis occurred after the hygiene measures were lifted. The current development causes a more frequent performance of mastoidectomies, a procedure that used to be performed rather rarely. This entails a change in the challenges for everyday clinical practice and training in ENT-specialists. Publication History Article published online: 19 April 2024 © 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany
Authors 5
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Affiliation as printed
Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Klinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Rostock
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Affiliation as printed
Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Klinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Rostock
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Affiliation as printed
Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Klinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Rostock
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Sebastian Philipp Schraven Aachen
Affiliation as printed
Universitätsmedizin Aachen, Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Aachen
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Affiliation as printed
Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Klinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Rostock
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