Assessing the Correlation between Hearing Loss and Diabetic Retinopathy Severity in Patients at A Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan

Correlation Between Hearing Loss and Diabetic Retinopathy Severity in Patients

Abstract

Diabetes frequently results in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), although little is known about its root causes and risk factors. Objectives: To evaluate the association between the severity of diabetic retinopathy and sensorineural hearing loss in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Data were collected from 150 patients with type 2 diabetes between June and August 2024. Participants were recruited via consecutive sampling. Audiological assessments were conducted using pure-tone audiometry, and the severity of diabetic retinopathy was graded by the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study scale. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test to assess the association between diabetic retinopathy severity and sensorineural hearing loss. Results: 33.3% of participants had normal hearing, while 37.3% had mild sensorineural hearing loss, 20% had moderate sensorineural hearing loss, and 9.3% had severe sensorineural hearing loss. Hypertension prevalence increased with DR severity (p=0.002), and a longer duration of diabetes was associated with more severe retinopathy (p<0.001). Significant differences were found in albumin, creatinine, and HbA1C levels (p<0.05), indicating worsening metabolic control with disease progression. sensorineural hearing loss severity showed a significant correlation with retinopathy stages (χ²=25.47, p<0.001), with the highest prevalence of severe sensorineural hearing loss in proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Conclusions: It was concluded that this study demonstrates a significant association between diabetic retinopathy severity and sensorineural hearing loss, with increased sensorineural hearing loss severity in more advanced stages of diabetic retinopathy.