The Hidden "Ear-Way": A Cohort Analysis of Otologic Manifestations in Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease

This study aims to report otologic manifestations in a cohort of patients with aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) to determine if severity of sinonasal inflammation is associated with presence of otologic sequalae (OS).

All AERD patients treated at a tertiary care center between 2009 and 2016 were included in analysis. Demographics, history of hearing loss, Lund-Mackay (LMK) scores, number of previous sinus procedures, CT findings, and pure tone averages (PTA) were compared between patients with and without OS using chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Wilcoxon rank sum test.

Of 255 AERD patients, 58.4% were female with a mean age of 48.9 (SD: 13.4) years. The majority (52.2%) had otologic manifestations, most commonly: otitis media requiring antibiotics (n = 89, 34.9%), peripheral vertigo (n = 59, 23.1%), and middle ear effusion (n = 44, 17.3%). A total of 74 patients (29.0%) had hearing loss. PTA ranged from 13.3 to 61.7 dB for the cohort, with no significant difference between those with and without OS. There was no significant difference in LMK in both groups. Patients with OS had a significantly greater number of sinus procedures than those without OS (median = 2.4 and 1.8 respectively; P = .01).

Otologic manifestations are common in patients with AERD. While there was an increased number of sinonasal surgeries performed in the patients with OS, there was no correlation between sinonasal inflammation, and the presence of OS as measured by LMK score or PTA. Otologic signs and symptoms should be considered in patients with AERD to help mitigate patient morbidity.

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