Otitis media with effusion: comparative effectiveness of treatments

Berkman ND, Wallace IF, Steiner MJ, Harrison M, Greenblatt AM, Lohr KN, Kimple A, Yuen A
Record ID 32013000733
English
Authors' objectives: To compare benefits and harms of strategies currently in use for managing otitis media with effusion (OME). Treatment for OME may include single approaches alone or combinations of two or more approaches. We compared benefits and harms among these treatments: tympanostomy tubes (TT), myringotomy (myr), adenoidectomy (adenoid), autoinflation (auto), oral or nasal steroids, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and watchful waiting (WW). We included comparisons of treatment effectiveness in subgroups of patients with OME, and whether outcome differences were related to factors affecting health care delivery or the receipt of pneumococcal vaccine inoculation.
Authors' recommendations: There is evidence that both TT and adenoid reduce OME and improve hearing in the short term, but both treatments also have associated harms. Large, well-controlled studies could help resolve the risk-benefit ratio by measuring AOM recurrence, functional outcomes, quality of life measures, and long-term outcomes. Finally, additional research is needed to support treatment decisions in subpopulations, particularly those with comorbidities and those who have received a pneumococcal vaccine inoculation.
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2013
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: United States
Contact
Organisation Name: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Contact Address: Center for Outcomes and Evidence Technology Assessment Program, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. Tel: +1 301 427 1610; Fax: +1 301 427 1639;
Contact Name: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov
Contact Email: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov
Copyright: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
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