Impact of SARS-Cov-2 Virus and The Pandemic on Tinnitus Patients: A Comparative Cross-sectional Study: Impact of SARS-Cov-2 Virus  on Tinnitus

Amna Awais; Nukhbat Ullah Awan; Ghulam Saqulain; Shahana Azmat; Sher Zaman; Paras Laraib; Shafqat Shahzad

doi:10.54393/pjhs.v4i10.1192

Authors

Amna Awais Department of ENT, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
Nukhbat Ullah Awan Department of ENT, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
Ghulam Saqulain Department of ENT, DHQ Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan
Shahana Azmat Department of Audiology, The Children’s Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
Sher Zaman Electrical Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburg, Scotland
Paras Laraib Department of Emergency Medicine, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, Pakistan
Shafqat Shahzad Department of Biostatistics, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v4i10.1192

Keywords:

COVID-19, Bothersome, Mental conditions, Pandemic, Tinnitus

Abstract

The WHO declared Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) a "Public Health Emergency" before the end of January 2020. Over 6M people have died out of 593 million recorded cases. Objective: To determine the effect of the COVID-19 and the pandemic on tinnitus patients. Methods: Comparative Cross-sectional study was conducted at Mayo Hospital, Lahore. Total 110 patients with tinnitus were included in this study using convenience sampling. Sample included both genders, aged 17 and above with Group A including patients who were inflicted from SARS-COV-2 and group B who did not encounter the virus. Tinnitus Severity Index and a questionnaire was used for data collection. A relationship between the tinnitus severity scale scores obtained before suffering from the coronavirus and after suffering from it. Similarly, a relationship between tinnitus severity scale scores obtained before the occurrence of pandemic and after it, was determined in COVID-19 negative group. T-test, Chi-square and ANOVA statistics were utilized to determine difference between groups with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Tinnitus was significantly (p=0.000) more bothersome during pandemic compared to before COVID-19 became pandemic, however having COVID-19 infection or not before (p=0.067) and during (p=0.234) pandemic did not reveal significant difference. TSI scores were higher in patients who picked COVID-19 infection compared to living in pandemic though not significant (p=0.375), however there was differences in characteristics of tinnitus. Conclusions: COVID-19 pandemic has produced a significant impact on tinnitus patients with more impact resulting from COVID-19 infection compared to pandemic itself, however this was not significant.

References

Cascella M, Rajnik M, Aleem A, Dulebohn SC, Di Napoli R. Features, evaluation, and treatment of coronavirus (COVID-19). Last cited 31st Oct 2023. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554776/.

Guan WJ, Ni ZY, Hu Y, Liang WH, Ou CQ, He JX et al., Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in China. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2020 Apr; 382(18): 1708-1720. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2002032. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2002032

COVID N. rapid guideline: delivery of radiotherapy (NG162. UK: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2020. Last cited 31st Oct 2023. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng188/resources/COVID19-rapid-guideline-managing.

Baguley D, McFerran D, Hall D. Tinnitus. Lancet. 2013 Nov; 382(9904): 1600-7. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60142-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60142-7

McCormack A, Edmondson-Jones M, Somerset S, Hall D. A systematic review of the reporting of tinnitus prevalence and severity. Hearing Research. 2016 Jul; 337: 70-9. doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2016.05.009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heares.2016.05.009

Cohen BE, Durstenfeld A, Roehm PC. Viral causes of hearing loss: a review for hearing health professionals. Trends Hear. 2014 Jul; 18: 2331216514541361. doi: 10.1177/2331216514541361. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2331216514541361

Viola P, Ralli M, Pisani D, Malanga D, Sculco D, Messina L, et al., Tinnitus and equilibrium disorders in COVID-19 patients: preliminary results. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 2021 Oct; 278(10): 3725-3730. doi: 10.1007/s00405-020-06440-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06440-7

Jafari Z, Kolb BE, Mohajerani MH. Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, and Dizziness in COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. 2022 Mar; 49(2):184-195. doi: 10.1017/cjn.2021.63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/cjn.2021.63

Almufarrij I and Munro KJ. One year on: an updated systematic review of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and audio-vestibular symptoms. International Journal of Audiology. 2021 Dec; 60(12): 935-945. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2021.1896793. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2021.1896793

Kartal A and Kılıç M. Tinnitus in patients recovering after COVID-19: observational and cross-sectional study. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 2023 Feb; 280(2): 573-80. doi: 10.1007/s00405-022-07501-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-022-07501-9

Sahin AR, Kocyigit BF, Aksu E, Akkok B, Tasdogan AM, Sahin M, et al. Multisystemic long-term sequelae of Covid-19: a review based on the current literature over a year of pandemic experience. Eurasian Journal of Medicine and Oncology. 2021; 5(1): 6. doi: 10.14744/ejmo.2021.69960. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14744/ejmo.2021.69960

Mertens G, Gerritsen L, Duijndam S, Salemink E, Engelhard IM. Fear of the coronavirus (COVID-19): Predictors in an online study conducted in March 2020. Journal of anxiety disorders. 2020 Aug; 74: 102258. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102258. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102258

Mazurek B, Boecking B, Brueggemann P. Association between stress and tinnitus—new aspects. Otology & Neurotology. 2019 Apr; 40(4): 467-73. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000002180. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000002180

Manchia M, Gathier AW, Yapici-Eser H, Schmidt MV, de Quervain D, van Amelsvoort T, et al., The impact of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic on stress resilience and mental health: A critical review across waves. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 2022 Feb; 55: 22-83. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.10.864. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.10.864

Beukes EW, Baguley DM, Jacquemin L, Lourenco MP, Allen PM, Onozuka J, et al., Changes in tinnitus experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health. 2020 Nov; 8: 681. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.592878. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.592878

Lamounier P, Gonçalves VF, Ramos HV, Gobbo DA, Teixeira RP, Dos Reis PC, et al., A 67-year-old woman with sudden hearing loss associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The American journal of case reports. 2020; 21: 927519-1.doi: 10.12659/AJCR.927519. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12659/AJCR.927519

Figueiredo RR, Penido ND, Azevedo AA, Oliveira PM, Siqueira AG, Figueiredo GD, et al., Tinnitus emerging in the context of a COVID-19 infection seems not to differ in its characteristics from tinnitus unrelated to COVID-19. Frontiers in Neurology. 2022 Sep; 13: 974179. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.974179. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2022.974179

Mazurek B, Haupt H, Joachim R, Klapp BF, Stöver T, Szczepek AJ. Stress induces transient auditory hypersensitivity in rats. Hearing research. 2010 Jan; 259(1): 55-63. doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2009.10.006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heares.2009.10.006

Cima RF. Stress-related tinnitus treatment protocols: new treatment approaches for chronic tinnitus-related distress. Tinnitus and stress: an interdisciplinary companion for healthcare professionals. 2017: 139-72. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-58397-6_8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58397-6_8

Lasheen RM and Tomoum MO. Association between tinnitus and anxiety in the convalescent COVID-19 patients: A single-center observational study. Egyptian Journal of Ear, Nose, Throat and Allied Sciences. 2024 Jan; 24(24): 1-7. doi: 10.21608/EJENTAS.2022.140705.1527 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/ejentas.2022.140705.1527

Thrane JF, Britze A, Fjaeldstad AW. Incidence and duration of self-reported hearing loss and tinnitus in a cohort of COVID-19 patients with sudden chemosensory loss: a STROBE observational study. European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Diseases. 2022 May; 139(3): 125-8. doi: 10.1016/j.anorl.2021.07.012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anorl.2021.07.012

Hougaard KS, Andersen MB, Kjær SL, Hansen ÅM, Werge T, Lund SP. Prenatal stress may increase vulnerability to life events: comparison with the effects of prenatal dexamethasone. Developmental Brain Research. 2005 Sep; 159(1): 55-63. doi: 10.1016/j.devbrainres.2005.06.014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devbrainres.2005.06.014

Saraf A, Manhas M, Kalsotra P, Ahmad R. COVID-19 and tinnitus—a tertiary care Centre experience. The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology. 2022 Dec; 38(1): 1-5. doi: 10.1186/s43163-022-00255-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s43163-022-00255-5

Schlee W, Hølleland S, Bulla J, Simoes J, Neff P, Schoisswohl S, et al., The effect of environmental stressors on tinnitus: a prospective longitudinal study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2020 Aug; 9(9) :2756. doi: 10.3390/jcm9092756. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9092756

Beukes E, Ulep AJ, Eubank T, Manchaiah V. The Impact of COVID-19 and the pandemic on tinnitus: a systematic review. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2021 Jun; 10(13): 2763. doi: 10.3390/jcm10132763. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10132763

Fioretti A, Natalini E, Triggianese G, Eibenstein R, Angelone AM, Lauriello M, et al., Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Patients with Chronic Tinnitus—Preliminary Results. Audiology Research. 2022 Jun; 12(3): 327-36. doi: 10.3390/ audiolres1203003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres12030034

Aydoğan ZE, Satekin MÇ, Ocak E, Yilmaz ST. Effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on subjective tinnitus perception. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 2022 May; 136(5): 410-3. doi: 10.1017/ S0022215122000640. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215122000640

Chirakkal P, Al Hail AN, Zada N, Vijayakumar DS. COVID-19 and Tinnitus. Ear, Nose & Throat Journal. 2021 Apr; 100(2): 160-2. doi: 10.1177/0145561320974849. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0145561320974849