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The Indoor Environment and Otitis Media among Australian Children: A National Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • David Veivers

    (Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
    Northern Clinical School, The University of Sydney, St. Leonards, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia)

  • Gail M. Williams

    (Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia)

  • Brett G. Toelle

    (Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
    Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia)

  • Adriana M. Cortés de Waterman

    (Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia)

  • Yuming Guo

    (Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia
    Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia)

  • Lyn Denison

    (ERM Services Australia, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia)

  • Bo-Yi Yang

    (Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China)

  • Guang-Hui Dong

    (Population Health, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia)

  • Bin Jalaludin

    (Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
    Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia
    Population Health, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
    Ingham Institute, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia)

  • Guy B. Marks

    (Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
    Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia
    South Western Sydney Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia)

  • Luke D. Knibbs

    (Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia
    School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia)

Abstract

The association between the indoor environment and lifetime prevalence of otitis media (OM) in Australian children was assessed. We analysed data from a cross-sectional study of children, aged 7–11 years, performed in twelve Australian cities during 2007–2008. The main outcome was a parental report of their child’s diagnosis with OM by a doctor. Information on the indoor environment (energy sources used for heating, cooling, and cooking, pets, and second-hand smoke exposure), in the first year of life and at present, was collected from parents by a questionnaire. Multi-level logistic regression models were used to adjust for individual- and area-level confounders. Our analysis comprised 2872 children (51% female, mean age: 10.0 (SD 1.2)). Of those, 1097 (39%) were reported to have OM. Exposure to gas heating in the first year of life was significantly associated with higher odds of OM in adjusted models (OR:1.22; 95% CI: 1.00,1.47), as was current exposure to reverse-cycle air conditioning (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.27,1.82). Ownership of a cat or dog at any time was also associated with high odds of OM (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.17,1.92). No other significant associations were observed. In this national study of Australian children, indoor environmental exposures associated with the lifetime prevalence of OM were gas heating, reverse-cycle air conditioning and pet ownership. Exposures in both early life and later childhood may both play a role in OM.

Suggested Citation

  • David Veivers & Gail M. Williams & Brett G. Toelle & Adriana M. Cortés de Waterman & Yuming Guo & Lyn Denison & Bo-Yi Yang & Guang-Hui Dong & Bin Jalaludin & Guy B. Marks & Luke D. Knibbs, 2022. "The Indoor Environment and Otitis Media among Australian Children: A National Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-9, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1551-:d:738264
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