Pattern of Otological Disorders Among Patients Attending the ENT Outpatient Department of BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka: A six month Retrospective Descriptive Study

Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Otological disorders constitute an important component of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) outpatient practice and include middle ear, external ear, inner ear, vestibular, and referred conditions. Describing their current clinical pattern can provide useful information for service planning and comparison with earlier local observations. Aim of the study: To describe the pattern and age distribution of otological disorders among patients attending the ENT outpatient department of BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka. Methods & Materials: This retrospective descriptive study reviewed clinical records of patients personally examined by the investigator in the Department of Otolaryngology & Head-Neck Surgery, BIRDEM General Hospital & Ibrahim Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh between July 2025 and December 2025. Among 1,234 patients presenting with ear, nose, or throat-related conditions, 643 unique patients had ear-related complaints and constituted the study population. Because individual patients could have multiple otological conditions, 819 diagnoses were recorded. Diagnoses were grouped into middle ear and Eustachian tube, external ear and ear canal, inner ear and vestibulocochlear, and structural or miscellaneous categories. Data were summarized using frequencies and percentages. Results: Among 819 recorded diagnoses, middle ear and Eustachian tube disorders were most frequent, accounting for 345 (42.1%), followed by external ear and ear canal disorders, 217 (26.5%), inner ear and vestibulocochlear disorders, 184 (22.5%), and structural or miscellaneous conditions, 73 (8.9%). Among the 643 patients, chronic suppurative otitis media was the most frequently recorded individual diagnosis, 206 (32.0%), followed by presbyacusis, 106 (16.5%), temporomandibular joint neuralgia or strain, 66 (10.3%), and acute suppurative otitis media, 63 (9.8%). Across diagnosis records, 483 of 819 (59.0%) occurred within the 40-69-year age bands. Presbyacusis was concentrated at older ages, with 39 of 106 cases (36.8%) occurring at 60-69 years and 35 (33.0%) at 70-79 years. Conclusion: Within this two-year outpatient series, middle ear disorders, particularly chronic suppurative otitis media, formed the predominant otological pattern, while presbyacusis contributed prominently among older age groups. The findings provide a contemporary description of the otological caseload observed at BIRDEM General Hospital.