Otitis externa maligna en España / Malignant external otitis in Spain

Introducción. La otitis externa maligna, una infección necrosante, se extiende desde el epitelio escamoso del conducto auditivo externo hasta tejidos adyacentes. Se estimó la incidencia y otros datos epidemiológicos de esta enfermedad en España con la serie más amplia de casos descrita. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de la población ingresada en los hospitales españoles con los datos del conjunto mínimo básico de datos (CMBD) durante el periodo 2008-2013. Se consideró «caso» a los pacientes cuyo diagnóstico (principal o secundario) al alta hospitalaria se hubiera codificado, de acuerdo al CIE 9-MC, como 380.14 (otitis externa maligna). Se calculó la tasa de incidencia por sexo, por grupos etarios, además de la estacionalidad y la mortalidad. Resultados. Se diagnosticaron 355 pacientes (302 como diagnóstico principal y 53 como secundario). La tasa de incidencia global por 1.000.000 de habitantes y año en España fue de 1,30 (IC 95%: 1,17 a 1,44), aunque varió de unas zonas geográficas a otras. La mediana de edad de los casos con diagnostico principal de OEM fue de 74 años (rango: 10 a 95 años). La mayor incidencia se situó por encima de los 84 años (19,3 casos por 106 de habitantes y año). La incidencia fue mayor en hombres y el riesgo relativo hombre-mujer de 2,4. El 74,6% de los pacientes fue diagnosticado de diabetes. El diagnóstico predominó en el último cuatrimestre del año. La tasa de mortalidad bruta intrahospitalaria fue del 3,7%. Conclusiones. La otitis externa maligna, con una incidencia y mortalidad baja, afecta principalmente a varones diabéticos de mayor edad (AU)

Introduction. Malignant external otitis is a necrotizing infection, which extends from the squamous epithelium of the ear canal to the adjacent tissue. The objective of the study was to investigate its incidence and other epidemiological data in Spain, reporting the largest case series to date. Methods. A descriptive, retrospective study of the Spanish population was carried out using the minimum basic data set (MBDS) based on data of patients admitted to hospitals in the 2008-2013 period. Patients whose diagnosis (principal or secondary) at discharge was encoded as 380.14 (malignant external otitis), according to ICD-9-CM, were included as cases. The Spanish incidence rate was calculated for all its communities and provinces, as well as by season and mortality. Results. A total of 355 patients (302 as principal diagnosis and 53 as secondary) were diagnosed. The incidence rate was 1.30 (95% CI, 1.17 to 1.44) per 106 inhabitants and year, although there were variations among geographical areas. The median age of cases with main diagnosis was 74 years (range 10-95 years). The predominant age group was in patients over 84 years old (19.3 cases per 106 inhabitants and year). The incidence was higher in men and the male-female relative risk was 2.4. Diabetes was present in 74.6% of patients. The diagnosis was predominant in the last quarter of the year. The gross in-hospital mortality rate was 3.7%. Conclusions. Malignant external otitis is seen mostly among male elderly and diabetic patients. The incidence and mortality rate are low in Spain (AU)

Malignant external otitis in Spain. / Otitis externa maligna en España.

INTRODUCTION: Malignant external otitis is a necrotizing infection, which extends from the squamous epithelium of the ear canal to the adjacent tissue. The objective of the study was to investigate its incidence and other epidemiological data in Spain, reporting the largest case series to date. METHODS: A descriptive, retrospective study of the Spanish population was carried out using the minimum basic data set (MBDS) based on data of patients admitted to hospitals in the 2008-2013 period. Patients whose diagnosis (principal or secondary) at discharge was encoded as 380.14 (malignant external otitis), according to ICD-9-CM, were included as cases. The Spanish incidence rate was calculated for all its communities and provinces, as well as by season and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 355 patients (302 as principal diagnosis and 53 as secondary) were diagnosed. The incidence rate was 1.30 (95% CI, 1.17 to 1.44) per 106 inhabitants and year, although there were variations among geographical areas. The median age of cases with main diagnosis was 74 years (range 10-95 years). The predominant age group was in patients over 84 years old (19.3 cases per 106 inhabitants and year). The incidence was higher in men and the male-female relative risk was 2.4. Diabetes was present in 74.6% of patients. The diagnosis was predominant in the last quarter of the year. The gross in-hospital mortality rate was 3.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Malignant external otitis is seen mostly among male elderly and diabetic patients. The incidence and mortality rate are low in Spain.