Association Between Hypertension and Hearing Loss

Introduction Hypertension (HTN) is a common health problem, diagnosed in every one out of four individuals. It is associated with various complications; however, its impact on hearing loss is not well studied. In this study, we will determine the impact of HTN on hearing. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in Jinnah Sindh Medical University from August 2020 to March 2021. Three hundred (300) patients with documented diagnosis of HTN, between the ages of 21 and 50 years, were enrolled in the study. Another 300 non-hypertensive participants were enrolled as a reference group. Participants were sent to trained otolaryngologist technicians, who performed audiometry at six different frequencies for each year (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 6.0 kilohertz (kHz)). The final hearing level was calculated by taking mean of hearing levels of both ears.  Results The hearing levels in audiometry were significantly higher in hypertensive participants compared to non-hypertensive participants (23.4 ± 8.67 dB vs 18.3 ± 6.02 dB; p-value: <0.0001). Participants who had been diagnosed with HTN for more than five years had higher hearing levels in audiometry test compared to participants with less than five years of HTN (24.21 ± 8.92 dB vs. 22.6 ± 8.02 dB; p-value 0.0001). Conclusion Based on our study, HTN is positively correlated with hearing loss. Therefore, longstanding hypertensive patients should be screened regularly in order to assess the status of their hearing abilities.