Can Reflux Symptom Index and Reflux Finding Score Be Used to Guide the Treatment of Secretory Otitis Media in Adults?

Background: At present more attention is paid to the treatment of secretory otitis media in children, but there is also a high incidence of adult patients. The etiology of secretory otitis media in adults is complex and related to many factors.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI)/Reflux Finding Score (RFS) and secretory otitis media in adults, and to explore further treatment methods.

Material And Methods: Taking outpatients in the otology department from January 2017 to May 2019 as the object of study, acoustic immittance tests were performed and the results analyzed. Patients with secretory otitis media received tympanocentesis or tympanotomy and the related components were analyzed.The patients were followed up and the curative effects of different treatment schemes were compared.

Results: There were 67 patients with secretory otitis media. The prevalence of secretory otitis media in patients with RSI >13 was significantly higher than that in patients with RSI <13. The prevalence of secretory otitis media in patients with RFS >7 was significantly higher than that in patients with RFS <7 (p < 0 05). The RSI/RFS score of B tympanogram was significantly higher than that of A and C maps (p < 0.05). Among the patients with type B, the serous type was higher in those with an RSI score <13, and the mucus was higher in those with an RSI score >13 (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the proportion of glue patients (p > 0.05). In type B patients, the detection rate of pepsin in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05), and the scores of RSI/RFS in the pepsin-positive group were significantly higher than those in the negative group (p < 0.05). Treatment with acid-suppressive drugs in patients with abnormal RSI/RFS achieved better results (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: RSI/RFS may be related to the development of secretory otitis media in adults, and could play a guiding role in its treatment.