Global, regional, and national epidemiology of otitis media in children from 1990 to 2021.

Background: Otitis media(OM) is a prevalent ear condition, particularly among children, with a significant impact on quality of life. This study aimed to elucidate the global prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with OM in the 0-14 age group from 1990-2021, using data from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study.

Methods: Our study conducted a comprehensive analysis of OM data from the GBD 2021 report, examining the prevalence and DALYs related to OM across 204 countries and territories over a 32-year period. Data were stratified by age, sex, year, geographic region, and sociodemographic index (SDI). Temporal trends were evaluated using estimated annual percent change (EAPC) calculations. Additionally, a global risk attribution analysis for childhood OM was conducted, and a Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model was applied to project the global burden of childhood OM from 2021-2035.

Results: In 2021, the global burden of OM in children remained significant, with an incidence of 297,243,470 cases and an age-standardized prevalence of 14,775 cases per 100,000 population. OM resulted in 1,035,749 DALYs globally, with an age-standardized DALY rate of 51.48 per 100,000 population. Regionally, the highest age-standardized prevalence of OM was observed in Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Western Sub-Saharan Africa, while Central Europe, East Asia, and High-income Asia Pacific exhibited the lowest prevalence. Key risk factors identified include secondhand smoke, particulate matter pollution, low birth weight, and short gestation. Additionally, a significant inverse association was found between the SDI and the burden of OM, with age-standardized DALY rates decreasing markedly as SDI increased.

Conclusion: OM in children represents an escalating global health challenge, marked by a rising incidence. Although there has been a global decline in DALYs, the burden of DALYs associated with OM in children remains significant, particularly in regions with a low SDI. A more comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology of OM in children could enhance prevention and control efforts.