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Pelton SI, Hullegie S, Leach AJ, Marchisio P, Marom T, Sabharwal V, Shaikh N, Tähtinen PA, Venekamp RP. ISOM 2023 Research Panel 5: Interventions- Vaccines and prevention, medical and surgical treatment, and impact of COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 176:111782. [PMID: 38000342 PMCID: PMC10842145 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2023.111782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify and synthesize key research advances from the literature published between 2019 and 2023 on the advances in preventative measures, and medical and surgical treatment of uncomplicated otitis media (OM) including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on OM management. DATA SOURCES Medline (PubMed), Embase, and the Cochrane Library. REVIEW METHODS All relevant original articles published in English between June 2019 and February 2023 were identified. Studies related to guideline adherence, impact of treatment on immune response and/or microbiology, tympanoplasty, Eustachian tube balloon dilatation, mastoidectomy procedures, and those focusing on children with Down's syndrome or cleft palate were excluded. MAIN FINDINGS Of the 9280 unique records screened, 64 were eligible for inclusion; 23 studies related to medical treatment, 20 to vaccines, 13 to surgical treatment, 6 to prevention (excl. vaccines) and 2 to the impact of COVID-19 on OM management. The level of evidence was judged 2 in 11 studies (17.2 %) and 3 or 4 in the remaining 53 studies (82.8 %) mainly due to the observational design, study limitations or low sample sizes. Some important advances in OM management have been made in recent years. Video discharge instructions detailing the identification and management of pain and fever for parents of children with acute otitis media (AOM) was more effective than paper instructions in reducing symptomatology; compared to placebo, levofloxacin solution was more effective for treating chronic suppurative otitis media, whereas AOM recurrences during two years of follow-up did not differ between children with recurrent AOM who received tympanostomy tube (TT) insertion or medical management. Further, novel pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) schedules for preventing OM in Aboriginal children appeared ineffective, and a protein-based pneumococcal vaccine had no added value over PCV13 for preventing AOM in native American infants. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a decline in OM and TT case volumes and complications was observed. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE AND FUTURE RESEARCH Whether the observed impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on OM management extends to the post-pandemic era is uncertain. Furthermore, the impact of the pandemic on the conduct of urgently needed prospective methodologically rigorous interventional studies aimed at improving OM prevention and treatment remains to be elucidated since the current report consisted of studies predominantly conducted in the pre-pandemic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen I Pelton
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Saskia Hullegie
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Department of General Practice and Nursing Science, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Amanda J Leach
- Child Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Paola Marchisio
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Tal Marom
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital, Ashdod, Israel and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
| | - Vishakha Sabharwal
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nader Shaikh
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Paula A Tähtinen
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Roderick P Venekamp
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Department of General Practice and Nursing Science, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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de Sévaux JLH, Damoiseaux RA, van de Pol AC, Lutje V, Hay AD, Little P, Schilder AG, Venekamp RP. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alone or combined, for pain relief in acute otitis media in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 8:CD011534. [PMID: 37594020 PMCID: PMC10436353 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd011534.pub3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common childhood infectious diseases. Pain is the key symptom of AOM and central to children's and parents' experience of the illness. Because antibiotics provide only marginal benefits, analgesic treatment including paracetamol (acetaminophen) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is regarded as the cornerstone of AOM management. This is an update of a review first published in 2016. OBJECTIVES Our primary objective was to assess the effectiveness of paracetamol (acetaminophen) or NSAIDs, alone or combined, compared with placebo or no treatment in relieving pain in children with AOM. Our secondary objective was to assess the effectiveness of NSAIDs as compared with paracetamol in children with AOM. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Issue 5, April 2023; MEDLINE (Ovid, from 1946 to May 2023), Embase (from 1947 to May 2023), CINAHL (from 1981 to May 2023), LILACS (from 1982 to May 2023), and Web of Science Core Collection (from 1955 to May 2023). We searched the WHO ICTRP and ClinicalTrials.gov for completed and ongoing trials (23 May 2023). SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised controlled trials comparing the effectiveness of paracetamol or NSAIDs, alone or combined, for pain relief in non-hospitalised children aged six months to 16 years with AOM. We also included trials of paracetamol or NSAIDs, alone or combined, for children with fever or upper respiratory tract infections if we were able to extract subgroup data on pain relief in children with AOM either directly or after obtaining additional data from study authors. We extracted and summarised data for the following comparisons: paracetamol versus placebo, NSAIDs versus placebo, NSAIDs versus paracetamol, and NSAIDs plus paracetamol versus paracetamol alone. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. We rated the overall certainty of evidence for each outcome of interest using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS We included four trials (411 children) which were assessed at low to high risk of bias. Paracetamol versus placebo Data from one trial (148 children) informed this comparison. Paracetamol may be more effective than placebo in relieving pain at 48 hours (proportion of children with pain 10% versus 25%, risk ratio (RR) 0.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17 to 0.85; number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome (NNTB) 7; low-certainty evidence). The evidence is very uncertain about the effects of paracetamol on fever at 48 hours (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.07 to 16.12; very low-certainty evidence) and adverse events (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.21 to 4.93; very low-certainty evidence). No data were available for our other outcomes of interest. NSAIDs versus placebo Data from one trial (146 children) informed this comparison. Ibuprofen may be more effective than placebo in relieving pain at 48 hours (proportion of children with pain 7% versus 25%, RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.70; NNTB 6; low-certainty evidence). The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of ibuprofen on fever at 48 hours (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.07 to 16.57; very low-certainty evidence) and adverse events (RR 1.76, 95% CI 0.44 to 7.10; very low-certainty evidence). No data were available for our other outcomes of interest. NSAIDs versus paracetamol Data from four trials (411 children) informed this comparison. The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of ibuprofen versus paracetamol in relieving ear pain at 24 hours (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.18; 2 RCTs, 39 children; very low-certainty evidence); 48 to 72 hours (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.54; 3 RCTs, 183 children; low-certainty evidence); and four to seven days (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.17 to 3.23; 2 RCTs, 38 children; very low-certainty evidence). The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of ibuprofen versus paracetamol on mean pain score at 24 hours (0.29 lower, 95% CI 0.79 lower to 0.20 higher; 3 RCTs, 111 children; very low-certainty evidence); 48 to 72 hours (0.25 lower, 95% CI 0.66 lower to 0.16 higher; 3 RCTs, 108 children; very low-certainty evidence); and four to seven days (0.30 higher, 95% CI 1.78 lower to 2.38 higher; 2 RCTs, 31 children; very low-certainty evidence). The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of ibuprofen versus paracetamol in resolving fever at 24 hours (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.24 to 2.00; 2 RCTs, 39 children; very low-certainty evidence); 48 to 72 hours (RR 1.18, 95% CI 0.31 to 4.44; 3 RCTs, 182 children; low-certainty evidence); and four to seven days (RR 2.75, 95% CI 0.12 to 60.70; 2 RCTs, 39 children; very low-certainty evidence). The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of ibuprofen versus paracetamol on adverse events (RR 1.71, 95% CI 0.43 to 6.90; 3 RCTs, 281 children; very low-certainty evidence); reconsultations (RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.40; 1 RCT, 53 children; very low-certainty evidence); and delayed antibiotic prescriptions (RR 1.32, 95% CI 0.74 to 2.35; 1 RCT, 53 children; very low-certainty evidence). No data were available on time to resolution of pain. NSAIDs plus paracetamol versus paracetamol alone Data on the effectiveness of ibuprofen plus paracetamol versus paracetamol alone came from two trials that provided crude subgroup data for 71 children with AOM. The small sample provided imprecise effect estimates, therefore we were unable to draw any firm conclusions (very low-certainty evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Despite explicit guideline recommendations on the use of analgesics in children with AOM, the current evidence on the effectiveness of paracetamol or NSAIDs, alone or combined, in children with AOM is limited. Paracetamol and ibuprofen as monotherapies may be more effective than placebo in relieving short-term ear pain in children with AOM. The evidence is very uncertain for the effect of ibuprofen versus paracetamol on relieving short-term ear pain in children with AOM, as well as for the effectiveness of ibuprofen plus paracetamol versus paracetamol alone, thereby preventing any firm conclusions. Further research is needed to provide insights into the role of ibuprofen as adjunct to paracetamol, and other analgesics such as anaesthetic eardrops, for children with AOM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joline L H de Sévaux
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Roger Amj Damoiseaux
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Alma C van de Pol
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Vittoria Lutje
- Cochrane Infectious Diseases group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Alastair D Hay
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Paul Little
- Primary Care Research Centre, Primary Care Population Sciences and Medical Education Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Aldermoor Health Centre, Southampton, UK
| | - Anne Gm Schilder
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre , London, UK
- evidENT, Ear Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Roderick P Venekamp
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Zempsky W, Bell J, Mossali VM, Kachroo P, Siddiqui K. Common Selfcare Indications of Pain Medications in Children. Paediatr Drugs 2023; 25:321-341. [PMID: 36928608 PMCID: PMC10019440 DOI: 10.1007/s40272-023-00562-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Pain has a multifaceted impact on individuals worldwide, affecting their physical functioning, emotional well-being, and quality of life. Children (age < 18 years) have a high prevalence of conditions associated with pain, such as toothache, headache, earache, sore throat, and respiratory tract infections, many of which may be accompanied by fever. Globally, the pharmacologic treatment of pain in pediatric patients is limited largely to nonopioid analgesics, and dosing must account for differences in age, weight, metabolism, and risk of adverse effects. This narrative review summarizes the findings of a literature search on the pediatric indications, dosing approaches, dosing guidelines, and pharmacokinetics of paracetamol and ibuprofen, which are common pain medications available globally for self-care use in children. The review also discusses the risks and benefits associated with these agents. The current roles of paracetamol and ibuprofen in the symptomatic management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and in the management of post-COVID-19 immunization symptoms in children are also discussed. Therefore, while a very large amount of data over several decades is available for paracetamol and ibuprofen, an urgent need exists for well-designed studies of these medications for the management of pain and fever in pediatric patients with COVID-19 to ensure optimal relief with minimal toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Zempsky
- Department of Pediatrics, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA. .,University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
| | - John Bell
- Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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de Sévaux JLH, Damoiseaux RAMJ, Hullegie S, Sanders EAM, de Wit GA, Zuithoff NPA, Yardley L, Anthierens S, Little P, Hay AD, Schilder AGM, Venekamp RP. Effectiveness of analgesic ear drops as add-on treatment to oral analgesics in children with acute otitis media: study protocol of the OPTIMA pragmatic randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e062071. [PMID: 36813504 PMCID: PMC9950909 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ear pain is the most prominent symptom of childhood acute otitis media (AOM). To control the pain and reduce reliance on antibiotics, evidence of effectiveness for alternative interventions is urgently needed. This trial aims to investigate whether analgesic ear drops added to usual care provide superior ear pain relief over usual care alone in children presenting to primary care with AOM. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This is a pragmatic, two-arm, individually randomised, open, superiority trial with cost-effectiveness analysis and nested mixed-methods process evaluation in general practices in the Netherlands. We aim to recruit 300 children aged 1-6 years with a general practitioner (GP) diagnosis of AOM and ear pain. Children will be randomly allocated (ratio 1:1) to either (1) lidocaine hydrochloride 5 mg/g ear drops (Otalgan) one to two drops up to six times daily for a maximum of 7 days in addition to usual care (oral analgesics, with/without antibiotics); or (2) usual care. Parents will complete a symptom diary for 4 weeks as well as generic and disease-specific quality of life questionnaires at baseline and 4 weeks. The primary outcome is the parent-reported ear pain score (0-10) over the first 3 days. Secondary outcomes include proportion of children consuming antibiotics, oral analgesic use and overall symptom burden in the first 7 days; number of days with ear pain, number of GP reconsultations and subsequent antibiotic prescribing, adverse events, complications of AOM and cost-effectiveness during 4-week follow-up; generic and disease-specific quality of life at 4 weeks; parents' and GPs' views and experiences with treatment acceptability, usability and satisfaction. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The Medical Research Ethics Committee Utrecht, the Netherlands, has approved the protocol (21-447/G-D). All parents/guardians of participants will provide written informed consent. Study results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed medical journals and presented at relevant (inter)national scientific meetings. TRIAL REGISTRATION The Netherlands Trial Register: NL9500; date of registration: 28 May 2021. At the time of publication of the study protocol paper, we were unable to make any amendments to the trial registration record in the Netherlands Trial Register. The addition of a data sharing plan was required to adhere to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors guidelines. The trial was therefore reregistered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05651633; date of registration: 15 December 2022). This second registration is for modification purposes only and the Netherlands Trial Register record (NL9500) should be regarded as the primary trial registration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joline L H de Sévaux
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Roger A M J Damoiseaux
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia Hullegie
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth A M Sanders
- Department of Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIMV), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - G Ardine de Wit
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Healthcare, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Nicolaas P A Zuithoff
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lucy Yardley
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- School of Psychological Science, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Sibyl Anthierens
- Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Paul Little
- Primary Care Research Centre, Primary Care Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Aldermoor Health Centre, Southampton, UK
| | - Alastair D Hay
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Anne G M Schilder
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Biomedical Research Centre, NIHR University College London Hospitals, London, UK
- evidENT, Ear Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Roderick P Venekamp
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Neighbourhood component analysis and deep feature-based diagnosis model for middle ear otoscope images. Neural Comput Appl 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00521-021-06810-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Improvement in the appropriate antimicrobial usage for treating pediatric acute otitis media in Japan: A descriptive study using nation-wide electronic medical record data. J Infect Chemother 2021; 27:1413-1422. [PMID: 34183234 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2021.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We investigated changes in prescriptions for antimicrobial agents to treat children with acute otitis media (AOM). METHODS A descriptive study using an electronic medical record database. Of 199,896 patients enrolled between 2001 and 2019, a total of 10,797 were aged <16 years and had AOM as their first and primary disease (overall pediatric AOM cohort). In addition, 4786 patients with AOM without other comorbidities (pediatric AOM cohort) were included. RESULTS In the overall pediatric AOM cohort, the age distribution ranged from 11% to 23% for those younger than 2 years and from 66% to 77% for those younger than 6 years, with no change over time. In the pediatric AOM cohort, the antimicrobial prescription rate was 91% in 2001 but declined to 40% by 2019. Antimicrobial use increased from 0% to 75% for penicillins, whereas use of cephalosporins decreased from 84% to 10%. The prescription rate for acetaminophen alone increased from 33% to 58%. There were no differences in the incidence of adverse reactions among the prescribed antimicrobials. CONCLUSIONS Due to education efforts and promotion of the proper use of antimicrobials through means such as the Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of acute otitis media in children (2006) and the Manual of Antimicrobial Stewardship (2016), a change in the use of antimicrobials occurred, leading to a trend to more proper use of these agents.
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van Uum RT, Venekamp RP, Pasmans CTB, de Wit GA, Sjoukes A, van der Pol AC, Damoiseaux RAMJ, Schilder AGM. Cost of childhood acute otitis media in primary care in the Netherlands: economic analysis alongside a cluster randomised controlled trial. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:193. [PMID: 33663491 PMCID: PMC7931516 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06157-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute otitis media (AOM) is among the most common paediatric conditions managed in primary care. Most recent estimates of the cost of AOM date from a decade ago and lack a full societal perspective. We therefore explored the societal cost of childhood AOM in the Netherlands within the setting of a trial comparing the effectiveness of an intervention aimed at educating general practitioners (GPs) about pain management in AOM compared to usual care. METHODS Economic analysis alongside a cluster randomised controlled trial conducted between February 2015 and May 2018 in 37 practices (94 GPs). In total, 224 children with AOM were included of which 223 (99%) completed the trial (intervention: n = 94; control: n = 129). The cost of AOM due to health care costs, patient and family costs, and productivity losses by parent caregivers were retrieved from study diaries and primary care electronic health records, during 28-day follow-up. We calculated mean cost (€ and $) per AOM episode per patient with standard deviations (SD, in €) regardless of study group assignment because there was no clinical effect of the trial intervention. In sensitivity analysis, we calculated cost in the intervention and usual care group, after exclusion of extreme outliers. RESULTS Mean total AOM cost per patient were €565.93 or $638.78 (SD €1071.01); nearly 90% of these costs were due to productivity losses experienced by parents. After exclusion of outliers, AOM cost was €526.70 or $594.50 (SD €987.96) and similar in the intervention and usual care groups: €516.10 or $582.53 (SD €949.69) and €534.55 or $603.36 (SD €920.55) respectively. CONCLUSIONS At €566 or $639 per episode, societal cost of AOM is higher than previously known and mainly driven by productivity losses by children's parents. Considering its high incidence, AOM poses a significant economic burden that extends beyond direct medical costs. TRIAL REGISTRATION Netherlands Trial Register no. NTR4920: http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=4920 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick T. van Uum
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Roderick P. Venekamp
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Clémence T. B. Pasmans
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - G. Ardine de Wit
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Healthcare, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Alies Sjoukes
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alma C. van der Pol
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Roger A. M. J. Damoiseaux
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anne G. M. Schilder
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
- evidENT, Ear Institute, University College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research, University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
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