Hearing threshold in patients with chronic renal failure

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pattern of hearing loss among patients with chronic renal failure (CRF).

METHODS: This is a case control study carried out jointly by the Otorhinolaryngology and Nephrology Departments of the University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria between December 2004 and March 2006. Consecutive CRF patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria were recruited, the patients had not had hemodialysis prior to inception of the study. Parameters like age, gender, duration of illness and blood pressure were recorded and pure tone audiometry was carried out. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences.

RESULTS: Thirty-three CRF patients and 28 healthy controls (34 males and 27 females) were used. The age range was 16-72 years, mean of 45.30 (SD 16.20). Sensorineural hearing loss was found in 67% of CRF and 32% of controls. The mean hearing threshold of CRF was 47.42 (SD 18.55) while the controls was 35 db, unpaired t-test (value -5.155) and Pearson correlation p=0.0008, r=0.614 showed the difference was significant. There was a correlation between duration of renal disease and hearing threshold p=0.00387 (r=0.73). There was no correlation between the hearing threshold and the diastolic blood pressure p=0.056 dosage of diuretics p=-0.155 (r=0.12) and creatinine level of the patients p=0.35 (r=0.31).

CONCLUSION: Sensorineural hearing loss is common among patients with CRF and related to the duration of renal disease, we recommend periodic audiological assessment incorporated in the care of these patients.