Pattern Of Ear Diseases Among Older People

Background: The ageing process and the last stage of life is fulfilling for some and disappointing for others there is scarcity of information about the pattern of ear diseases in the older black African people, especially in Nigeria being the largest black African nation. This study aims to highlight the pattern of ear diseases among the older people to provide an objective basis for cost-effective health care planning for the increasing geriatric population in a developing country.
Methods: A ten year hospital-based retrospective study at the ENT Department of University College Hospital, Ibadan. All patients aged 65 years or older were enrolled into the study. The biodata, clinical history and examination findings were retrieved.
Results: A total of 507 older patients were included in the study. The male to female sex ratio was 1.1:1. Traders accounted for 200 (39.5%) of cases, 167 (32.9%) were pensioners, 100 (19.7%) were farmers and 40 (7.9%) being full-time housewives. The commonest ear disease was impacted cerumen with bilateral less than unilateral hearing loss (Presbycusis) in 93 (18.2%) of the patients. Among cases with infective ear diseases, chronic suppurative otitis media was diagnozed in 33 (6.5%) of which 26 (78.8%) were unilateral and 7 (21.2%) were bilateral. Other conditions included otomycosis in 27 (5.4%), Tinnitus in 58 (11.5%) and foreign body impaction in 2 (0.4%) of the cases
Conclusion: Impacted cerumen, hearing loss, and CSOM are the common diseases of the ear in elderly, thus regular Otoscopy should be part of general medical check up. Continuing medical education is recommended for the general practitioners for early recognition and referral.