Associations between Particulate Matter and Otitis Media in Children: A Meta-Analysis

Sang-Youp Lee, Myoung-jin Jang, Seung Ha Oh, Jun Ho Lee, Myung-Whan Suh and Moo Kyun Park
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Sang-Youp Lee: Department of Otolaryngology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan 54538, Korea
Myoung-jin Jang: Medical Research Collaborating Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
Seung Ha Oh: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Jun Ho Lee: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Myung-Whan Suh: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Moo Kyun Park: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: Particulate matter (PM), a primary component of air pollution, is a suspected risk factor for the development of otitis media (OM). However, the results of studies on the potential correlation between an increase in the concentration of PM and risk of developing OM are inconsistent. To better characterize this potential association, a meta-analysis of studies indexed in three global databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library) was conducted. These databases were systematically screened for observational studies of PM concentration and the development of OM from the time of their inception to 31 March 2020. Following these searches, 12 articles were analyzed using pooled odds ratios generated from random-effects models to test for an association between an increased concentration of PM and the risk of developing OM. The data were analyzed separately according to the size of particulate matter as PM 2.5 and PM 10 . The pooled odds ratios for each 10 μg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentration were 1.032 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.005–1.060) and 1.010 (95% CI, 1.008–1.012), respectively. Specifically, the pooled odds ratios were significant within the short-term studies (PM measured within 1 week of the development of OM), as 1.024 (95% CI, 1.008–1.040) for PM 2.5 concentration and 1.010 (95% CI, 1.008–1.012) for PM 10 concentration. They were significant for children under 2 years of age with pooled odds ratios of 1.426 (95% CI, 1.278–1.519) for an increase in the concentration of PM 2.5 . The incidence of OM was not correlated with the concentration of PM, but was correlated with an increase in the concentration of PM. In conclusion, an increase in the concentration of PM 2.5 is more closely associated with the development of OM compared with an increase in the concentration of PM 10 ; this influence is more substantial in shorter-term studies and for younger children.

Keywords: particulate matter; otitis media; child; meta-analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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