Type 2 inflammation (T2I) plays a role in otitis media with effusion (OME)

Published online January 14, 2025

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common disease and can cause hearing loss, which would significantly affect quality of life. Furthermore, OME is associated with many comorbidities, including asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and others. These comorbidities are also highly related to T2I. While conservative treatments are often the first line management of OME, many patients with the comorbidities mentioned above require surgical intervention. Consequently, T2I may play a significant role in OME severity and outcomes.

This retrospective, matched-cohort study, published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice by lead author Prof. Tang-Chuan Wang, analyzed data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Collecting 31,603 patients respectively with and without T2I between 2010 and 2019, this study performed statistical analyses including Cox proportional regression models, t tests, Kaplan-Meier estimators, and log-rank tests to evaluate the risk of surgical intervention for the two groups.

Due to similar pathological mechanisms, Allergic rhinitis is the most common disease (80.15%) as a comorbidity of OME. Chronic rhinosinusitis also accounted for a certain proportion of T2I diseases (24.03%). Among OME patients, those with T2I had a greater risk of undergoing surgical intervention. This study suggests that T2I can influence the progression of OME. Identification of T2I in OME patients may improve treatment outcomes. Further research on T2I and middle ear disorders should be encouraged.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice is an official journal of the AAAAI, focusing on practical information for the practicing clinician.

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