Determinants of the Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Patients with Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo): A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: The onset of the hearing loss is a major challenge during the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Aminoglycosidebased regimens, to a lesser extent based on bedaquiline, induce ototoxic sensorineural hearing loss. Research on risk factors is essential to enable high-risk individuals to benefit from preventive measures in settings with limited resources. Objective: This study aimed to assess the determinants of the hearing loss in patients with MDR-TB. Methods: This prospective multicenter cohort study included 337 patients with MDR-TB. It was performed in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) between January 2020 and January 2021. Sociodemographic, clinical, biological, therapeutic, and audiometric data were exported and analyzed using Stata 17 and MedCalc.