Prevalence and risk factors for Eustachian tube dysfunction in children with sleep-disordered breathing undergoing adenotonsillectomy: a double-centre retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Eustachian tube dysfunction and identify associated risk factors in a consecutive cohort of children undergoing adenotonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of children with sleep-disordered breathing admitted for adenotonsillectomy in two tertiary public hospitals in South China from January 2019 to November 2023. The prevalence of Eustachian tube dysfunction was assessed based on tympanograms. Demographic information and clinical characteristics were collected for risk factors analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1,044 children aged 3 to 14 years were enrolled in the present study, 375 (35.92%) of whom had Eustachian tube dysfunction. Risk factors for Eustachian tube dysfunction included age less than or equal to six years, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, adenoid hypertrophy and hypoxemia. No significant association was found between Eustachian tube dysfunction and gender, disease duration, tonsillar hypertrophy, obesity or obstructive sleep apnoea.

CONCLUSION

Eustachian tube dysfunction is highly prevalent in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing and, therefore, warrants further attention and intervention.