Association Between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and Middle Ear Disease in Adults: An NHANES Analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and middle ear disease (MED) in adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015 to 2020.

Study Design: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on a sample of American adults to explore the association between DII and MED.

Setting: The study utilized data from 3 NHANES cycles (2015-2020), assessing the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States.

Methods: We analyzed data from 3743 participants aged 20 and older, with MED defined by abnormal tympanogram results. DII was calculated based on dietary intake data recorded during the 24 hours before the interview. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between DII and MED, adjusted for various demographic and health-related factors.

Results: The results revealed a significant positive association between higher DII scores and the likelihood of MED, particularly in individuals under 60 years of age. A nonlinear relationship was identified, with a threshold effect at a DII value of 2.74, below which higher DII was associated with increased risk of MED, while the association weakened above this threshold.

Conclusion: This study suggests that inflammatory dietary patterns are associated with an increased risk of MED, especially in younger adults. The findings underscore the importance of dietary interventions in preventing and managing MED and warrant further prospective studies to confirm these results and understand the mechanisms by which diet affects middle ear health.