Tinnitus and equilibrium disorders in COVID-19 patients: preliminary results

Abstract

Purpose Tinnitus and equilibrium disorders such as dizziness and vertigo have been reported by patients with COVID-19; however, they have been rarely investigated. The aim of this study was to study the prevalence of subjective tinnitus and dizziness in a sample of COVID-19 patients using an online 10-item close-ended questionnaire. Methods A multicentric study that included 15 Italian hospitals in different regions was conducted using an online 10-item close-ended questionnaire developed to identify the presence of tinnitus and balance disorders in patients with COVID-19 between May 5 and June 10, 2020. The questionnaire was administered to 185 patients in a period of > 30 – < 60 days after diagnosis of COVID-19; responses were recorded in an online Excel spreadsheet. The questionnaire was composed of three sections: (1) demographic information; (2) presence and characteristics of tinnitus and dizziness after COVID-19 diagnosis; (3) possible association with migraine. Results Thirty-four patients (18.4%) reported equilibrium disorders after COVID-19 diagnosis. Of these, 32 patients reported dizziness (94.1%) and 2 (5.9%) reported acute vertigo attacks. Forty-three patients (23.2%) reported tinnitus; 14 (7.6%) reported both tinnitus and equilibrium disorders. Conclusion This study suggests that the presence of subjective otoneurological symptoms such as tinnitus and balance disorders can affect COVID-19 patients; further studies are necessary to investigate the prevalence and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these subjective symptoms in COVID-19 patients.

Vestibular Neuritis as Clinical Presentation of COVID-19

“…11 Of these, the majority reported simple dizziness, but acute vertigo attacks were present in 5%. 18 In our case, the patient experienced an AVS. Head Impulse test, Nystagmus, Test of Skew (HINTS) examination allowed us to suspect a VN and vHIT confirmed the diagnosis of left superior vestibular neuritis.…”

Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, and Dizziness in COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The present meta-analysis on four studies 11,[22][23][24] shows the occurrence rate of 3.10% (CIs: 0.010-0.090) or 3.1% for hearing loss on confirmed cases with Covid-19. This number, however, should be interpreted with precaution because of the low level of evidence (e.g., studies with no control group) and high heterogeneity among papers.…”

Acute Labyrinthitis Revealing COVID-19

“…Proposed mechanisms include direct viral invasion, reactivation of a latent virus within the spiral ganglion, and an immune-mediated mechanism in a systemic viral infection [ 5 ]. Currently, the damaging impact of COVID-19 virus on the hearing organs in the inner ear is a new finding yet to be explored [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Otitis has already been highlighted as an unusual presentation of COVID-19, in conjunction with usual viral symptoms or as an isolated disorder [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”