Did Increase of Rates of Sudden Hearing Loss During COVID-19?

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cases of sudden hearing loss (SHL). Methods: We examined two patient groups diagnosed with SHL at Düzce University Medical Faculty Hospital and Düzce Atatürk State Hospital in Turkey. The first group, diagnosed between March 2019 and March 2020, represents pre-Covid-19. The second group includes patients diagnosed from March 2020 to March 2021, corresponding to the initial year of the Covid-19 pandemic in this region. We evaluated patient numbers, age, and gender across these groups to identify any increase in SHL cases potentially associated with the pandemic. Results: The ratio of SHL cases per population in Group 1 was 51 out of 450,000, or approximately 0.011333. In Group 2, this ratio was 32 out of 450,000, or roughly 0.007111. Statistical analysis (p=0.037) revealed a notably higher SHL rate in the pre-Covid-19 period than during the pandemic. Conclusions: The suggested etiological explanations for SHL remain hypothetical. Although COVID-19 has been widely considered a possible factor, our findings do not support increased SHL cases due to the virus.

Keywords

• COVID-19 pandemic
• Sudden hearing loss
• Infection

Covid-19 Sürecinde Ani İşitme Kaybı Oranları Artış Gösterdi Mi?

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Covid-19 salgının ani işitme kaybı üzerindeki etkisini araştırmaktır. Yöntem: Çalışmamızı oluşturan 1. grup, Covid-19 öncesi Türkiye-Düzce Mart 2019 den Mart 2020 tarihine kadar Düzce Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Hastanesi ile Düzce Atatürk Devlet Hastanesi’ nde Ani İşitme Kaybı tanısı almış hastaları içerir. İkinci grup ise yine aynı popülasyonda Covid-19 enfeksiyonun görülmeye başladığı Mart 2020 ile Mart 2021 ile tarihleri arasında AİK tanısı almış hastaları içermektedir. Bu hastaların sayısı, cinsiyeti ve yaşı incelenip, iki grubun sayısı arasında AİK tanısı alan hastalarında Covid-19 salgını nedenli bir artış olup olmadığının değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Bulgular: Grup 1 deki hastaların nüfusa oranı 51/450000 = 0,011333 dir. Grup 2 deki hastaların nüfusa oranı 32/450000 = 0,007111 dir. Bu iki oran 51/450000 = 0,011333 ile 32/450000 = 0,007111 karşılaştırıldığında p=0,037 olup istatistiksel olarak Covid-19 öncesinde AİK oranı, Covid-19 esnasındaki AİK oranından anlamlı olarak yüksek bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Etyoloji de ortaya konan fikirler hipotez düzeyindedir. Tüm dünyayı etkisi altına alan Covid-19 da AİK nın olağan şüphelileri arasındadır. Bizim bulgularımız Covid-19 un AİK nı artırmadığı yönündedir.

Keywords

• Covid-19 Salgını
• Ani işitme kaybı
• Enfeksiyon

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