[Epidemiological aspects of otosclerosis (II): sex, hereditary factors, its course before diagnosis, age at diagnosis and its beginning].

Retrospective study done with a group of 401 patients enduring otosclerosis. Seventy percent were women. 59% with positive familial antecedents. Illness was recognized as midpoint, at 44.5 years and symptomatology started at 35.3 years. Lasting time of condition till diagnosis assured was 8.5 years (higher than 5 years the half of cases and between 1 an 5 years the third part of them), these numbers considerably decreasing regarding other older series. Figures lower in those cases without familiar otosclerotic antecedents, the same than in unilateral specimen. The only significative influence of sex where tinnitus aurium among women (70.7% to face up 51.7%).