Prevalence of Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases in the Elderly: Khon Kaen University’s Community Service from 2017 to 2018
Piromchai P, MD, MSc, PhD, FRCOT, FICS1, Saeseow P, MD, FRCOT1, Reechaipichitkul W, MD, FRCOT1, Kasemsiri P, MD, FRCOT1, Chayaopas N, MD, FRCOT1
Affiliation : 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Objective : To identify the prevalence of ear, nose, and throat diseases in elderly members of a local community and provide treatment
or referral in cases in which further treatment was needed.
Materials and Methods : This cross-sectional study employed a quantitative approach to evaluate the prevalence of the ear, nose,
and throat diseases. The residents of Lao Subdistrict, Maha Sarakham Province aged 60 years and above were invited to participate
in one of the four screening sessions held over a one-year period in 2017 and 2018. A proportion of ear, nose and throat diseases
and general health status of participants were evaluated by otolaryngologists that included (a) a general appearance examination,
(b) an ear examination via otoscopy, (c) a throat and neck examination, and (d) a nasal examination via rhinoscopy.
Results : The ear examination revealed pathologies in 23 (16.79%) of the 137 participants who were enrolled in the study. The throat
examination revealed problems in less than 10% of participants. Nasal diseases were found less than 5%. None of the participants
needed urgent or emergency treatment or referral. Six participants have received medications for their ambulatory diseases.
Conclusion : We identified ear, nose, and throat problems among the elderly population at the community level. The prevalence of ear
diseases was significantly higher than those reported by the Ministry of Public Health.
Keywords : Otolaryngology, Ear, Nose, Throat, Screening
