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Mielle LP, Maximiano MVA, Neves-Lobo IF, Silva LAF, Goulart AC, Romagnolli C, de Oliveira GSS, Samelli AG, Matas CG. Peripheral and brainstem auditory evaluation in post-COVID-19 individuals. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2024; 79:100472. [PMID: 39098145 PMCID: PMC11334733 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the peripheral and central auditory pathways in adult individuals after COVID-19 infection. METHOD A total of 44 individuals aged between 19 and 58 years, of both genders, post-COVID-19 infection, confirmed by serological tests, with no previous hearing complaints and no risk factors for hearing loss, were assessed. All the participants underwent the following procedures: pure tone audiometry, logoaudiometry, immitanciometry, and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP), in addition to answering a questionnaire about auditory symptoms. RESULTS Thirteen individuals (29.5 %) had some hearing threshold impairment, mainly sensorineural hearing loss. In the BAEP, 18 individuals (40.9 %) presented longer latencies, mainly in waves III and V. According to the questionnaire answers, 3 individuals (9.1 %) reported worsened hearing and 7 (15.9 %) tinnitus that emerged after the infection. As for the use of ototoxic drugs during treatment, 7 individuals (15.9 %) reported their use, of which 5 showed abnormalities in peripheral and/or central auditory assessments. CONCLUSION Considering the self-reported hearing complaints after COVID-19 infection and the high rate of abnormalities found in both peripheral and central audiological assessments, it is suggested that the new COVID-19 may compromise the auditory system. Due to the many variables involved in this study, the results should be considered with caution. However, it is essential that audiological evaluations are carried out on post-COVID-19 patients in order to assess the effects of the infection in the short, medium, and long term. Future longitudinal investigations are important for a better understanding of the auditory consequences of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Pinto Mielle
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Maria Vanderléia Araujo Maximiano
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ivone Ferreira Neves-Lobo
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Liliane Aparecida Fagundes Silva
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alessandra C Goulart
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Center for Clinical and Epidemiological Research, Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Carla Romagnolli
- Center for Clinical and Epidemiological Research, Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Gerson Sobrinho Salvador de Oliveira
- Division of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Infection Control Department, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Giannella Samelli
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Carla Gentile Matas
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Obeidat FS, Alghwiri AA, Whitney SL. Predictors of Dizziness and Hearing Disorders in People with Long COVID. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1901. [PMID: 38003950 PMCID: PMC10673595 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59111901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Individuals report persistent symptoms after becoming infected by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) that last for >4 weeks (long-COVID syndrome). Dizziness and hearing loss have been reported among long-COVID symptoms. However, little is known about the potential predictors of dizziness and hearing loss in individuals with long COVID. This study aimed to explore the presence and correlates of dizziness and hearing loss in a sample of people with long-COVID syndrome. Materials and Methods: Individuals aged 18 years and older who were infected with COVID-19 at least 8 weeks prior to the start of the study were included if they were not diagnosed with dizziness or hearing loss before getting COVID-19. Demographics and COVID-19-related information were collected. Participants completed the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale, Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I), Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 12 (SF-12). Finally, hearing was assessed using pure-tone audiometry (PTA) in a subsample. Results: Two hundred and nine individuals (66% female) with a mean (SD) age of 27 (9) participated in the study. Perceived dizziness and hearing loss were reported in 26 and 15.3% of the sample, respectively. Logistic regression was conducted to identify potential predictors of dizziness and hearing loss separately. After controlling for age and severity of dizziness, female sex and high fatigue severity were associated with an increased likelihood of reporting dizziness (R2 = 31%). The severity of dizziness and neurological symptoms during the acute stage of COVID-19 were associated with an increased likelihood of reporting hearing loss (R2 = 10.4%) after controlling for age. Conclusions: Dizziness and hearing loss present in long COVID and can be disabling. Females with high levels of fatigue should be questioned about persistent dizziness. Hearing loss should be considered in individuals with neurological symptoms and severe dizziness as a consequence of long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faten S. Obeidat
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Alia A. Alghwiri
- Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Susan L. Whitney
- Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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Schmid MB, Bächinger D, Pangalu A, Straumann D, Dlugaiczyk J. Acute Unilateral Peripheral Vestibulopathy After COVID-19 Vaccination: Initial Experience in a Tertiary Neurotology Center. Front Neurol 2022; 13:917845. [PMID: 35847228 PMCID: PMC9283640 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.917845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to identify patients who developed acute unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy (AUPVP) after COVID-19 vaccination.MethodsFor this single-center, retrospective study, we screened the medical records of our tertiary interdisciplinary neurotology center for patients who had presented with AUPVP within 30 days after COVID-19 vaccination (study period: 1 June−31 December 2021). The initial diagnosis of AUPVP was based on a comprehensive bedside neurotological examination. Laboratory vestibular testing (video head impulse test, cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, dynamic visual acuity, subjective visual vertical, video-oculography, caloric testing) was performed 1–5 months later.ResultsTwenty-six patients were diagnosed with AUPVP within the study period. Of those, n = 8 (31%) had developed acute vestibular symptoms within 30 days after COVID-19 vaccination (mean interval: 11.9 days, SD: 4.8, range: 6–20) and were thus included in the study. The mean age of the patients (two females, six males) was 46 years (SD: 11.7). Seven patients had received the Moderna mRNA vaccine and one the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine. All patients displayed a horizontal(-torsional) spontaneous nystagmus toward the unaffected ear and a pathological clinical head impulse test toward the affected ear on initial clinical examination. Receptor-specific laboratory vestibular testing performed 1–5 months later revealed recovery of vestibular function in two patients, and heterogeneous lesion patterns of vestibular endorgans in the remaining six patients.Discussion and ConclusionsThe present study should raise clinicians' awareness for AUPVP after COVID-19 vaccination. The relatively high fraction of such cases among our AUPVP patients may be due to a certain selection bias at a tertiary neurotology center. Patients presenting with acute vestibular symptoms should be questioned about their vaccination status and the date of the last vaccination dose. Furthermore, cases of AUPVP occurring shortly after a COVID-19 vaccination should be reported to the health authorities to help determining a possible causal relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Basil Schmid
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David Bächinger
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Athina Pangalu
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dominik Straumann
- Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Julia Dlugaiczyk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Julia Dlugaiczyk
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