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Hearing loss among hypertensive patients

The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology volume 35, pages 307–312 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Hypertension is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Hypertensives have been observed to have elevated hearing thresholds in various studies.

Aims and objectives

The aims of this study were to assess the hearing thresholds of hypertensives in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria and compare it with nonhypertensive controls.

Patients and methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted among hypertensives and age-matched and sex-matched controls from August 2015 to April 2016. A pretested questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographic and medical history. General physical examination and blood pressure measurements were done. Hearing thresholds were then measured with a diagnostic pure tone audiometer.

Data analysis

The pure tone average was calculated. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 23.

Results

A total number of 104 participants were enrolled into the study. Fifty-two were hypertensives while the other 52 were nonhypertensive controls. The mean age of the participants was 49.1±10.3 years, with ages ranging from 34 to 85 years. There were 38 (36.5%) women and 66 (63.5%) men. Among the hypertensive participants, 20 (38.5%) had various degrees of hearing loss, whereas seven (13.5%) of the non-hypertensives had hearing loss (P=0.004, χ2=8.45). The mean pure tone average (air conduction) among the hypertensive participants was 27.8±13.3 dB HL and 16.7±7.9 dB HL among the nonhypertensive control group. Among the hypertensives, 17 (32.7%) had mild hearing loss, while all seven (13.5%) patients in the nonhypertensive group had mild hearing loss.

Conclusion

This study has observed a 38.5% prevalence of hearing loss among hypertensives. It has shown an association between hypertension and hearing thresholds. All frequencies tested were observed to have elevated hearing thresholds among hypertensives as compared with the nonhypertensive control group.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of ENT, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, No. 1 Garba Nadama Road, Gawon Nama Area, 840232, Sokoto, Nigeria

    Stephen S. Yikawe MBBS, MPH, FWACS, Joseph H. Solomon, Kingsley Osisi & Foluso M. Adeyeye

  2. Cardiology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria

    Samuel U. Uguru

  3. Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Abuja, Nigeria

    Andrew M. Adamu

  4. Department of ENT, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria

    Frederick Damtong

Authors
  1. Stephen S. Yikawe MBBS, MPH, FWACS
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  2. Samuel U. Uguru
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  3. Joseph H. Solomon
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  4. Andrew M. Adamu
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  5. Frederick Damtong
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  6. Kingsley Osisi
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  7. Foluso M. Adeyeye
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen S. Yikawe MBBS, MPH, FWACS.

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Yikawe, S.S., Uguru, S.U., Solomon, J.H. et al. Hearing loss among hypertensive patients. Egypt J Otolaryngol 35, 307–312 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4103/ejo.ejo_16_19

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