Sensorineural hearing loss in post-COVID-19 patients

Background: Hearing loss (HL) is one of the most common chronic conditions after hypertension and arthritis. Mounting indices suggest that sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) may be one of the adverse effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Objective: This work aimed at studying SNHL in post-COVID-19 patients, alongside with exploring the relationship between severity of the disease and degree of hearing disability. Materials and methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Azhar University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. It included 100 post-COVID-19 patients selected according to the study inclusion and exclusion criteria. Pure tone audiometry was done to confirm the presence of HL and to determine its degree. Results: Hundred patients with recent oncent hearing symptoms after documented COVID-19 infection were included. Males (71%) were more affected than females (29%). The most of our cases had bilateral moderate HL (45%). Tinnitus was the most frequently associated otological symptom (96.96%). The time of HL onset varied from days to weeks (55% had time onset between 11-30 days post-confirmed infection). Higher thresholds were detected in all frequencies of affected ears with more deterioration of hearing as frequencies increase. All degrees of HL were detected; mild, moderate, severe and profound. There was no significant correlation between severity of COVID-19 infection and severity of HL. Conclusions: SNHL is one of the extrapulmonary complications of COVID-19. COVID-19 patients may develop hearing affection regardless the severity of the infection. It is recommended to assess hearing functions in patients after COVID-19 for early detection and proper management.