Otitis media and associations with overweight status in toddlers

IntroductionOtitis media (OM) is a significant disease that affects nearly all children early in life. Recently, childhood overweight has become an epidemic. Past research has demonstrated that a history of OM is related to food preferences and overweight through proposed physiological mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between recurrent OM (ROM)/tympanostomy tube treatment and overweight status.MethodsData were analyzed from a prospective cohort of mothers and children recruited from 1991-1996 from a local health maintenance organization. ROM and tympanostomy tube status were obtained through a combination of physical exam and medical record abstraction. ROM and tympanostomy tube status were analyzed as categorical variables with weight-for-length (WFL) data from well child checks. Chi-square and logistic regression for univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.Results11.4% of children had a WFL measure at two years of age ≥ 95th percentile. Those children with a history of tympanostomy tube treatment had a significantly increased risk of having a WFL ≥ 95th percentile after controlling for birth weight, maternal prenatal smoking, maternal education, and family income (OR 3.32, 95% CI 1.43-7.72). The alternative hypothesis that children with larger WFL at two month of age would have a greater number of OM episodes by two years of age was not significant.ConclusionThe findings of this study are consistent with the hypothesis and prior research that OM treated with tympanostomy tubes is associated with overweight status.

Research Highlights► In this cohort, 34% of children were classified as overweight/risk for overweight. ► Tympanostomy tube treatment was significantly associated with being overweight. ► In multivariate analysis, the OR of being overweight with a history of OM was 2.27. ► Weight at 2 months of age did not predict tube placement at age 2. ► Study supports prior research that OM is related to risk of being overweight.