Epidemiological characterization of acute mastoiditis in Chile: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background: Acute mastoiditis (AM) is one of the commonest complications of acute otitis media, previous Chilean reports in this area are scarce. 

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study is to characterize the hospitalized patients with AM diagnosis during the year 2022 in the Chilean territory. 

Methods: We will retrieve the information from the diagnosis-related groups (DRG) provided by the national public health fund during the year 2022. For all the patients with at least one diagnosis being acute mastoiditis according to the CIE-10 classification (H70, H70.1, H70.8, H70.9) we will collect the following data: sex, age, length of stay, mortality, and month of admission. The statistical analysis will be purely descriptive, with mean, standard deviation, median and interquartile range when appropriate.

Results: Among the main outcomes highlights a higher prevalence in children with a median age of 11, and in males which represent the 63% of cases, there is also a peak of admissions in the month of June with a 128% increase compared with the monthly average, finally there is a higher length of stay and intrahospital mortality in adults. 

Conclusion: Our findings in Chilean population corroborate that MA affects predominantly pediatric and male population. Nonetheless our findings surrounding in-hospital mortality in adults requires further research for its determination.