Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Eustachian Tube Disorders in US Children and Adolescents

OBJECTIVES To describe the association between active, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and the prevalence of eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) in the U.S. pediatric population. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING U.S. representative demographic and audiometric data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES);2005-2010. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The study consisted of 2,977 children aged 12-19 years. ETD was defined as middle ear pressure <100mm H20. ETS was defined as non-active smoking in individuals with serum cotinine over the limit of detection (≥0.015 ng/mL) and <10 ng/mL(N = 1559). RESULTS The prevalence of ETD was 6.1%. After multivariate adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, education level, ethnicity, or having a cold, sinus problem or earache during the last 24 hours, compared to unexposed children, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of ETD for those exposed to ETS ages 12-15 in the first, second and third tertile of cotinine concentrations were, respectively, 1.38 (0.53-3.60), 0.99 (0.53-3.60) and 2.67 (1.12-6.34). Similarly, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of ETD for those exposed to ETS ages 16-19 in the first, second and third tertile of cotinine concentrations were, respectively, 1.28 (0.48-3.41), 0.99 (0.40-2.48) and 2.86 (1.19-6.88). CONCLUSION These data suggest that children and adolescents exposed to high concentrations of ETS may have an increased prevalence of ETD.