Bidirectional association between asthma and otitis media in children

BACKGROUND: This study explored the reciprocal association between otitis media and asthma in children. METHODS: The 2002–2013 Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service-National Sample Cohort participants < 15 years old were used. In study I, 14,665 asthma patients from 2002 through 2005 were selected. The asthma patients were matched 1:1 with the control I group, and the occurrence of otitis media was followed until 2013. In study II, 27,043 otitis media patients from 2002 through 2005 were selected. The otitis media patients were matched 1:1 with the control II group, and the occurrence of asthma was followed until 2013. Stratified Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the hazard ratio (HRs) of asthma for otitis media (study I) and otitis media for asthma (study II). RESULTS: The HR for otitis media was 1.46 in asthma patients (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.40–1.52, P < 0.001). The HR for asthma was 1.43 in otitis media patients (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36–1.50, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Asthma and otitis media have a bidirectional association in children.