The incidence and clinicoepidemiological features of symptomatic otosclerosis

The incidence of symptomatic otosclerosis (SOS) in China is unknown, which is detrimental to the public health policy and physician training. To estimate the incidence and clinicoepidemiological features of SOS in Shanghai. Outpatient SOS incidence data were derived from hospital records in Shanghai capable of performing otosclerosis surgery. The total number of SOS patients was calculated using the proportion of outpatients in our hospital and other hospitals in Shanghai. Also, the clinic epidemiological features were studied using 1,147 SOS surgical inpatients in our hospital. The incidence of SOS was 2.5 per 100,000 persons, which appeared to be increasing. The increased severity of the lesion shown by CT is related to several preoperative symptoms including tinnitus and bilateral incidence and pregnancy-related complaints (female only) in SOS patients. Moreover, 72.8% of SOS patients could be accurately diagnosed at their first visit. Our results estimated the possible incidence of SOS in Shanghai for the first time, providing a conservative incidence in China. Based on our results, stapes surgery remains an important part of advanced ear surgery training in hospital. However, the accuracy of initial SOS diagnosis can be further improved clinically.