The Indoor Environment and Otitis Media among Australian Children: A National Cross-Sectional Study

David Veivers, Gail M. Williams, Brett G. Toelle, Adriana M. Cortés de Waterman, Yuming Guo, Lyn Denison, Bo-Yi Yang, Guang-Hui Dong, Bin Jalaludin, Guy B. Marks and Luke D. Knibbs
Additional contact information
David Veivers: Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
Gail M. Williams: Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
Brett G. Toelle: Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
Adriana M. Cortés de Waterman: Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Yuming Guo: Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia
Lyn Denison: ERM Services Australia, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Bo-Yi Yang: Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Guang-Hui Dong: Population Health, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
Bin Jalaludin: Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Guy B. Marks: Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Luke D. Knibbs: Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-9

Abstract: The association between the indoor environment and lifetime prevalence of otitis media (OM) in Australian children was assessed. We analysed data from a cross-sectional study of children, aged 7–11 years, performed in twelve Australian cities during 2007–2008. The main outcome was a parental report of their child’s diagnosis with OM by a doctor. Information on the indoor environment (energy sources used for heating, cooling, and cooking, pets, and second-hand smoke exposure), in the first year of life and at present, was collected from parents by a questionnaire. Multi-level logistic regression models were used to adjust for individual- and area-level confounders. Our analysis comprised 2872 children (51% female, mean age: 10.0 (SD 1.2)). Of those, 1097 (39%) were reported to have OM. Exposure to gas heating in the first year of life was significantly associated with higher odds of OM in adjusted models (OR:1.22; 95% CI: 1.00,1.47), as was current exposure to reverse-cycle air conditioning (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.27,1.82). Ownership of a cat or dog at any time was also associated with high odds of OM (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.17,1.92). No other significant associations were observed. In this national study of Australian children, indoor environmental exposures associated with the lifetime prevalence of OM were gas heating, reverse-cycle air conditioning and pet ownership. Exposures in both early life and later childhood may both play a role in OM.

Keywords: otitis media; indoor air pollution; risk factor; glue ear (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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