ORIGINAL: Sensorineural Hearing Loss among Hypertensives

West Afr J Med. 2021 Feb;38(2):125-130. PMID: 33641146

Authors

  • O. R. Quadri Department of ENT Surgery, Gombe State University & Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria.
  • I. O. Gbujie Department of ENT-HN Surgery, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.
  • D. B. Ojji Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja & University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.
  • D. F. Folorunso Department of ENT-HN Surgery, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.
  • F. M. Damtong Department of ENT-HN Surgery, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.
  • E. A. Dahilo Department of Surgery (ENT Unit), College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja & Department of ENT-HN Surgery, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.
  • T. S. Ibekwe Department of Surgery (ENT Unit), College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja & Department of ENT-HN Surgery, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.
  • O. G. Nwaorgu Department of Otolaryngology, University College Hospital, Ibadan & College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: The effect of hypertension on the vascular system leads to Target Organ Damage (TOD). The cochlea is one of the target organs affected by hypertension, giving rise to Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL).

Objective: To determine the prevalence and pattern of Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL) among hypertensives.

Design: Case-Control Study.

Setting: Tertiary hospital.

Subjects: Two hundred and twenty six hypertensives, aged 21 to 60 years and a corresponding number of age and sex matched control.

Methodology: Eligible participants were prospectively evaluated. Their blood pressures were verified, hearing thresholds assessed through Pure Tone Audiometry, Pure Tone Average were calculated and the types and degree of hearing loss were confirmed. Data was analyzed using SPSS 21 and statistical significance was set at p-value 0.05.

Results: Each group had 127 (56.19% ) females and 99 ( 43.81 % ) males. The difference in the mean age between the cases (40.02 ± 0.70years) and the controls (37.42 ± 0.47years) was not statistically significant (p = 0.542).The difference in the mean Pure Tone Average in dBHL between the cases (15.53± 6.95) and the controls (13.98 ± 4.35) was significant (p = 0.005) with a 12.83% prevalence of SNHL among the hypertensives against 1.77% in the controls. Majority (96.6 %) of them demonstrated bilateral, symmetrical, mild SNHL with 51.7% of them being above 50 years. The odds ratio in this study was 8.17 (p = 0.0001).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated a SNHL prevalence of 12.83% with a mild, bilateral, symmetrical pattern among hypertensives; increasing with advanced age and an eight-fold risk of occurrence.

Published

2021-02-26

Issue

Vol. 38 No. 2 (2021): The West African Journal of Medicine

Section

Articles
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