REGIONAL PATTERNS OF ACUTE TONSILLITIS AND PERITONSILLAR ABSCESS MORBIDITY IN 2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37219/nx92c458Keywords:
acute tonsillitis, peritonsillar abscess, risk factors, odds ratio, linear regression, seasonality, length of stay, Brovary regionAbstract
Background: Acute tonsillitis (AT) and its complication, peritonsillar abscess (PTA), represent a substantial burden on the healthcare system. This issue has become increasingly acute in Ukraine due to post-pandemic COVID-19 dynamics, ongoing military actions, associated blackouts, widespread exposure to low temperatures, and constrained access to timely medical care.
Objective: To identify the risk factors for the development of acute tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscess based on the analysis of clinical, demographic, and epidemiological parameters of regional morbidity.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted for the year 2025 at the Non-Profit Utility Enterprise "Brovary Multidisciplinary Clinical Hospital." Data from 87 hospitalized patients were analyzed, including 42 individuals with verified AT and 45 patients with PTA. Statistical analysis was performed using R software. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square test (χ2), the Mann–Whitney U test, and both logistic and multiple linear regression models were applied.
Results: The study confirmed a pronounced seasonal pattern of hospitalizations, peaking in the winter-spring period (February–March) and reaching a minimum in summer (p = 0.061). A strong correlation was found between both pathologies (r = 0.82; p < 0.001), with PTA accounting for an overall rate of 11.0% [6, 15]. The median age of patients with PTA was significantly higher than those with AT (35.0 vs. 28.0 years; p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed heterogeneity of risk factors depending on sex and age. In the subgroup of patients aged over 30 years, male sex was a significant risk factor for PTA development (OR = 1.30). Conversely, for female patients and the older age group in general, a history of recurrent tonsillitis served as the primary predictor (OR = 1.56 and OR = 1.49, respectively). The duration of hospitalization for PTA was significantly shorter compared to AT (6.0 vs. 7.0 bed-days; p = 0.001). According to the linear regression model, the presence of PTA was directly associated with a shorter hospital stay (β = -0.48), which can be attributed to the rapid regression of clinical symptoms following surgical incision and drainage.
Conclusions: The findings confirm age-related and clinical differentiation in the epidemiological course of AT and PTA in the Brovary region. The obtained data are of practical importance for predicting peak periods of workload on the otolaryngology service, optimizing the allocation of inpatient resources, and refining the selection criteria for high-risk patients recommended for elective tonsillectomy.
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