Abstract
Background and Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disorder linked to several auditory disorders, particularly sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), which otherwise presents as symptomatic or asymptomatic. This study examined the prevalence of SNHL in a cohort of Saudi Arabian patients with IBD to identify possible predictors.
Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study examined adult patients with IBD comprising the main subtypes of the disease, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), who were followed up at the Gastroenterology Clinic at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH). Demographic data were collected, and disease severity was assessed using the Harvey-Bradshaw index (HBI) for CD patients and the partial Mayo score for UC patients. Otoscopy, tympanometry, and pure tone audiometry were conducted for hearing assessment through referrals to the audiology unit of the otolaryngology department. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. An independent samples t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, chi-squared test, and Fisher’s exact test were used for statistical comparison between variables.
Results: Thirty-three patients met the inclusion criteria. The ear assessment was found to be normal on otoscopy examination in 97% of patients (n=32). Right ear pure tone audiometry showed SNHL in 21.1% of patients, conductive hearing loss in 6.1%, left ear pure tone audiometry found SNHL in 21.2% of patients, conductive hearing loss in 3%, and mixed in 6.1%. No significant differences were found between patients with and without SNHL with respect to various demographic, environmental, and medical variables: age, sex, smoking history, IBD medication, extra-intestinal manifestations, hearing loss factors, and IBD subtype.
Conclusions: In assessing the ear and analysis of IBD patient characteristics, the presence or absence of SNHL was not significantly associated with the environmental and medical variables considered. Indeed, the results showed normal findings in most IBD patients examined; SNHL was observed only in a small proportion of the cohort. No clinically significant predictors of SNHL were identified