Is there a relation between sleep apnea, tinnitus, and hearing Loss?

Authors : Nurcan YURTSEVER KUM, Serpil ALLUŞOĞLU, Mehmet Ali ÇETİN, Fatma Cemre SAZAK KUNDİ, Ali Rıza YAĞMUR, Mustafa ÇOLAK, Aykut İKİNCİOĞULLARI, Kürşat Murat ÖZCAN, Haci Hüseyin DERE

Pages : 288-293

Doi:10.16899/jcm.1246971

View : 15 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 2023-03-22

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Abstract Background Chronic hypoxia may lead to auditory dysfunction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(OSA);, and this dysfunction may worsen OSA, creating a vicious circle. The aim of this study was to investigate tinnitus and hearing loss in OSA patients. Methods A total of 147 patients were included in the study. After polysomnography insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PSG);, the patients with an apnea-hypopnea index insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(AHI); ≥ 5 were included in OSA group, and the ones with an AHI<5 were included in the simple snoring group. The OSA patients were divided into three OSA severity subgroups as mild, moderate and severe OSA subgroups. Standard pure-tone audiometry insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PTA); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz); and high-frequency audiometry insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(8, 10, 12 kHz); were performed, and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(THI); was applied to all participants. Audiological results and THI scores were compared among the study groups. Results The OSA group consisted of 46 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(36.5%); female, 80 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(63.5%); male, and a total of 126 patients. The simple snoring group included 13 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(61.9%); female, 8 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(38.1%); male, and a total of 21 patients. The mean body mass index, hearing thresholds in all tested frequencies and THI scores were significantly higher in OSA group insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p=0.024, p=0.001, p=0.015, p=0.017, p=0.039, p=0.002 and p=0.001, respectively);. THI score showed a statistically significant and positive correlation with the AHI insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p=0.004; r=0.252);. The mean THI score was significantly lower in mild OSAS subgroup compared to moderate and severe OSA subgroups insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p=0.019);. Conclusions OSA, hearing impairment and tinnitus are either comorbidities or related etiologically. Higher prevalence of hearing impairment in OSA patients compared to simple snorers suggests that intermittent nocturnal hypoxia, rather than sound of snoring plays a role in hearing impairment.
Keywords : Tinnitus, İşitme kaybı, Obstrüktif uyku apnesi, Polisomnografi