The Effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Hearing Loss: Preliminary Report

Abstract

Introduction: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammation that can cause systemic manifestations. Auditory system can also be affected by this disease. Sensorineural and conductive hearing loss have been reported but the results remain controversial. Aim: The aim of this study was to find out the correlation between RA and hearing loss. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, analytical, and prospective study included 19 subjects with RA and 19 subjects with other joints disease as comparison from January to June 2015. Pure tone audiometry and tympanometry examinations were conducted for all subjects. Pearson Chisquare test was used to analyse the correlation between RA and hearing impairment as well as the correlation between diseases duration, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), and platelet count; and hearing threshold. Independent samples t-test was used to analyse the difference in mean of air and bone conduction thresholds, air-bone gap values, as well as hearing thresholds in both groups. Results: Hearing impairment was 78.9% in RA group and 21.1% in comparison group (p<0.05). Sensorineural hearing loss was the most common finding in RA (52.6%). There were significant correlations of disease duration and ESR with hearing loss degree in RA (p<0.05). The significant difference was obtained in air-bone gap values at 500 Hz to 4000 Hz (p<0.05). Conclusion: Rheumatoid arthritis can cause hearing loss.

Keywords

• erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• pure tone audiometry
• sensorineural hearing loss
• tympanometry