Evaluation of hearing complications in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluation of hearing complications in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: This study was cross-sectional study and performed on 100 recovered coronary patients in Sina Educational and Treatment Center in 2020, 2 weeks after discharge from the hospital in accordance with hygienic principles. The sampling method in this study was easy and available sampling. Auditory threshold was assessed in audiometry of Sina Educational, Research and Treatment Center. Improved patients were examined by an ENT specialist and evaluated for tinnitus and dizziness after recovery. A questionnaire was given to improved corona patients, and individuals answered questions about the presence of tinnitus, recent hearing loss, and a history of dizziness after disease and its severity. Patients in the age range of 14-50 years were included in this study. The hearing thresholds of these individuals were examined at frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 Hz and compared with the normal range of hearing thresholds in healthy individuals between 14 and 50 years old. The age and sex of improved corona patients were also compared with hearing threshold range. Results: In this study, the mean (standard deviation) age of the subjects was 41.05 (±7.7) years. The prevalence of tinnitus and dizziness attacks after discharge in the subjects was both with 16 cases (16.0%), of which the duration of each dizziness attack in 8 cases (8.0%) was less than one minute and in 8 cases (8.0%) were between one minute to 24 hours. In this study, the highest hearing thresholds of the right and left ears after discharge in the subjects were normal in all frequencies of 500 to 8000 Hz and in most cases Mild was in the next rank. Type of tinnitus in right and left ear after discharge in 7 cases (7.0%) and 5 cases (5.0%) was voice, and in 6 cases (6.0%) and 2 cases (2.0%) was huhu, respectively. The severity of tinnitus in right and left ear after discharge in 6 cases (6.0%) and 3 cases (3.0%) was weak, in both 4 cases (4.0%) was moderate and in 3 cases (3.0%) and 0 cases (0.0%) was annoying, respectively. Also, the duration of tinnitus in right and left ear after discharge in 3 cases (3.0%) and 2 cases (2.0%) was permanent, and in 10 cases (10.0%) and 5 cases (5.0%) was sometimes, respectively. Among the hearing thresholds in the frequencies of 500 to 8000 Hz, none of them had a statistically significant relationship with the age and sex of the subjects (P-value> 0.05).