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Secondary Otalgia in an Adult Population
Seppo J. Kuttila, MD;
Marjaana H. Kuttila, DDS, PhD;
Päivi M. Niemi, PhD;
Yrsa B. Le Bell, DDS, PhD;
Pentti J. Alanen, DDS, PhD;
Jouko T. Suonpää, MD, PhD
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001;127:401-405.
Objective To analyze the associations of secondary otalgia with general health,
stress, insomnia, bruxism, and recurrent head and neck region pains.
Design A population-based survey.
Setting General community.
Subjects A total of 391 randomly selected subjects (186 men, 205 women) aged
25, 35, 45, 55, or 65 years.
Methods Standardized interview and self-report questionnaires of general health
and stress.
Results Otalgia was statistically significantly associated with all the studied
factors. However, in the whole study group, independent predictors of otalgia
were the obvious need for temporomandibular disorder treatment, high frequency
of stress symptoms, and bruxism. When analyzed in women, the predictors of
otalgia were the obvious need for temporomandibular disorder treatment, high
frequency of stress symptoms, and age. When analyzed in men, recurrent neck
pain was a predictor of otalgia.
Conclusions We suggest that after ruling out otorhinolaryngologic infectious diseases
and temporomandibular disorder in patients with secondary otalgia, the next
step is to explore the frequency of stress symptoms, bruxism, and recurrent
neck pain. Furthermore, women and men may need a different approach in diagnostics
of secondary otalgia. By diagnosing and treating these predictors of otalgia,
it may be possible to reach a more successful outcome.
From the Departments of Otorhinolaryngology (Dr S. J. Kuttila) and
Clinical Dentistry (Dr M. H. Kuttila), Otonhammas, Jyväskylä; Department
of Psychiatry (Dr Niemi), Postgraduate Program in Clinical Dentistry, Institute
of Dentistry (Dr Bell), and Department of Community Dentistry, Institute of
Dentistry (Dr Alanen), University of Turku; and Department of Otorhinolaryngology,
Turku University Central Hospital (Dr Suonpää), Turku, Finland.
Corresponding author and reprints: Seppo J. Kuttila, MD, Otonhammas
Oy, PO Box 612, FIN 40101 Jyväskylä, Finland.
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