Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire Score Changes at 6 and 12 Weeks: Follow-Up Implications

Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) can cause symptoms such as aural fullness, hearing loss, and tinnitus, and the Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire (ETDQ-7) is used to assess symptom burden. Balloon dilation of the eustachian tube (BDET) is a treatment for chronic obstructive ETD (OETD) in patients who fail medical therapy, yet optimal postoperative follow-up timing remains unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 28 patients who underwent BDET between 2017 and 2024, analyzing ETDQ-7 scores at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant improvement from baseline to 6 weeks (P < .001), with no additional benefit from 6 to 12 weeks (P = .625). These findings suggest early symptom improvement is sustained, and a single 6-week follow-up visit may suffice for monitoring outcomes. This could reduce patient burden and optimize healthcare resource utilization. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings in larger, more diverse populations across different clinical settings.