TY - JOUR

T1 - Risk factors of epistaxis in rural Denmark

T2 - a cross-sectional population-based survey of data from the Lolland-Falster health study

AU - Hovgaard, Lisette Hvid

AU - Grønlund, Casper

AU - Homøe, Preben

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Purpose: Epistaxis is a common condition that affects about 60% of the population in their lifetime, with 6% needing medical attention. Little is known about the epidemiology and risk factors of epistaxis outside the health care system. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of epistaxis in a rural Danish population using data from the Lolland-Falster Health Study (LOFUS). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey based on data from LOFUS, a household-based, prospective cohort study in the rural provincial area of Lolland-Falster, Denmark. We enrolled 10,065 participants (≥ 50 years) and collected data on demographics, comorbidities, medication, lifestyle factors, and laboratory parameters. Logistic regressions were used to test for correlations between epistaxis and different risk factors. Results: In total 5.3% of the participants had experienced epistaxis within the past 30 days, and 7.9% had sought medical attention for epistaxis at some point in their lives. We identified several factors that were significantly correlated with increased odds of epistaxis, such as male gender, age group 50–59 years, high BMI (> 25), allergy, diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, angina, and anticoagulant treatment. Excellent or good self-reported health was correlated to significantly lower odds of epistaxis. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive overview of the prevalence and risk factors of epistaxis outside the health care system. Our study suggests that preventive measures targeting these risk factors may reduce the incidence and severity of epistaxis in this population.

AB - Purpose: Epistaxis is a common condition that affects about 60% of the population in their lifetime, with 6% needing medical attention. Little is known about the epidemiology and risk factors of epistaxis outside the health care system. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of epistaxis in a rural Danish population using data from the Lolland-Falster Health Study (LOFUS). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey based on data from LOFUS, a household-based, prospective cohort study in the rural provincial area of Lolland-Falster, Denmark. We enrolled 10,065 participants (≥ 50 years) and collected data on demographics, comorbidities, medication, lifestyle factors, and laboratory parameters. Logistic regressions were used to test for correlations between epistaxis and different risk factors. Results: In total 5.3% of the participants had experienced epistaxis within the past 30 days, and 7.9% had sought medical attention for epistaxis at some point in their lives. We identified several factors that were significantly correlated with increased odds of epistaxis, such as male gender, age group 50–59 years, high BMI (> 25), allergy, diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, angina, and anticoagulant treatment. Excellent or good self-reported health was correlated to significantly lower odds of epistaxis. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive overview of the prevalence and risk factors of epistaxis outside the health care system. Our study suggests that preventive measures targeting these risk factors may reduce the incidence and severity of epistaxis in this population.

KW - Epidemiology

KW - Epistaxis

KW - Health care

KW - Population-based cohort study

KW - Risk factors

U2 - 10.1007/s00405-024-08762-2

DO - 10.1007/s00405-024-08762-2

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38914819

AN - SCOPUS:85196747600

JO - Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ohren- Nasen- und Kehlkopfheilkunde

JF - Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ohren- Nasen- und Kehlkopfheilkunde

SN - 0942-8992

ER -