Hearing thresholds in adult Nigerians with diabetes mellitus: a case–control study

Abstract

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence, types and severity of hearing loss and associated factors in a hospital population of adult Nigerians with diabetes mellitus.Subjects and methodsThis study was a prospective hospital-based study conducted at the Otorhinolaryngology and Diabetic Clinics of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, for a period of 12 months. Consecutively presenting eligible adult diabetics and their age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. Each case and control participant had clinical and otologic examination, followed by pure tone audiometry. Data were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics.ResultsThere were 224 patients and 192 control participants. The patients comprised 112 males and 112 females (sex ratio=1:1), whose mean age was 47.6 years (range: 26–80 years). The prevalence of hearing loss was 46.9%. This comprised 43.8% sensorineural and 3.1% conductive hearing losses. The distribution of hearing loss by severity was mild 25.0%, moderate 15.6% and severe 6.3%. The controls comprised 96 males and 96 females whose mean age was 44.6 years (range: 25–79 years). The prevalence of hearing loss was significantly higher overall and by type (sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss) in cases compared with controls.ConclusionThe prevalence of hearing loss among diabetic adults at UNTH, Enugu, is comparatively high. Hearing loss is predominantly sensorineural and often mild to moderate in severity. Routine audiometric evaluation of all adult diabetics at UNTH is recommended.

Prevalence of hearing impairment in patients with diabetes mellitus at tertiary care center of Nepal

“…20,21 In the present study, the mean age of study participants was 52.13±13.31 years which was similar to earlier studies. [15][16][17] Similarly, female predominance in the current study was in line with existing studies. [20][21][22] Gyawali et al, 24 observed that type 2 diabetes mellitus exhibited pronounced excess of females in the Nepalese population.…”

“…This finding was less compared to earlier studies where the prevalence of hearing loss in diabetes mellitus patients quoted from a range of 33.7% to 97.6%. [15][16][17][18][19] We did not find clarification for such a broad variation, but it could be attributed to the study methodology of differences in inclusion criteria, demographics, type and duration of diabetes mellitus, the clinical and biochemical status of diabetes mellitus patients. The current study did not limit the recruitment of study participants according to the duration of disease, age, or gender.…”

“…The study by Khakurel et al, conducted at Kathmandu Medical College among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients observed hearing loss of 72.5%. Nwosu et al, 15 set inclusion criteria of minimum duration of disease for five years or more but did not have any age limits noted 46.9 % prevalence of hearing loss in diabetes mellitus patients. But they did not exclude any subjects with conductive hearing loss.…”

“…The higher prevalence of hearing loss at higher frequencies also substantiated previous findings of higher frequencies affected more in diabetes mellitus. 15,16 Akinpelu et al, 27 examined histopathological findings in the cochlear structure of diabetes mellitus patients, where they noted changes in stria vascularis and Organ of Corti. The author also reported atrophy of spiral ganglion more at basal turn of the cochlea.…”

Association between self-reported hearing impairment and diabetes: a Brazilian population-based study

“…Those characteristics will adversely affect the patient’s quality of life and their ability to live independently [8]. Also, considering that hearing impairment is associated with diabetes and that this is a major public health problem in low and middle-income countries and in developed economies, it is important to develop population-based studies in order to know the magnitude of this association.…”