Ethnic differences in acute hospitalisations for otitis media and elective hospitalisations for ventilation tubes in New Zealand children aged 0–14 years

Authors: McCallum J et al.

Summary: These researchers investigated ethnic differences in acute hospital admissions for otitis media (OM) and elective admissions for ventilation tubes in New Zealand children aged 0–14 years. They also reviewed first attendances at Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Outpatient appointments during 2007–2008 by ethnicity. Records were examined from all hospital admissions of children aged 0–14 years during 2002–2008 that met the following criteria: acute admissions with an ICD–10-AM primary diagnosis code of OM; elective admissions with a primary procedure code of ventilation tube insertion. Among 0–4 year olds, acute admissions for OM were more likely among Māori and Pacific children than European children. In contrast, both Māori and Pacific children had lower rates of elective admissions for ventilation tube insertion, with ethnic differences being most marked for children from the most deprived areas. In those aged 5–14 years, Māori and Pacific children again had higher acute OM admission rates than European children. However, in contrast to the younger age group, they also had higher rates of ventilation tube insertion. ENT outpatient data for children 0–4 years revealed similar first appointment rates for European and Māori children, but lower rates for Pacific and Asian children. For the 5–14 age group, first appointment rates were higher for Māori and Pacific children than for European children. However, Māori and Pacific children in both age groups had higher rates of non-attendance at their first ENT appointments than European children.

Reference: N Z Med J. 2015;128(1416):10-20

Abstract