A Retrospective Database Analysis to Estimate the Burden of Acute Otitis Media in Children Aged <15 Years in the Veneto Region (Italy)

Abstract

This study aimed to assess trends in the incidence of acute otitis media (AOM), a common childhood condition, following the introduction of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in the Veneto region of Italy in 2010. AOM episodes (overall, simple, and recurrent (≥3 or ≥4 episodes in 6 or 12 months, respectively, with ≥1 episode in the preceding 6 months)) in children <15 years of age were identified in Pedianet from 2010–2017. Interrupted time series analyses were conducted to assess changes in the annual incidence rates (IRs) in early (2010–2013) and late (2014–2017) PCV13 periods. In total, 72,570 children (402,868 person-years) were identified; 21,048 had 41,683 AOM episodes. Mean annual AOM IR was 103/1000 person-years (95% confidence interval: 102–104), decreasing from 126 to 79/1000 person-years. AOM IRs were highest in children 2–4 years of age, followed by <2 and 5–14 years of age. Overall and simple AOM IRs decreased among children 0–14 years of age, including 2–4 and 5–14 years of age, while recurrent AOM IRs decreased in children <2 years of age. Following PCV13 introduction, AOM IRs decreased substantially in children <15 years of age, with the greatest benefit observed in older children, driven by a reduction in simple AOM IRs. AOM disease burden remains substantial.