Assessment of Auditory-Related Symptoms and Comorbidities in Diabetic Type 2 Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i10.2490Keywords:
Diabetes mellitus, ENT, Comorbidities, Hearing lossAbstract
Background: Diabetes mellitus is a long-term metabolic disorder that is well established to produce systemic complications. Of these, auditory complications are underdiagnosed. This study sought to investigate the relationship between the duration of diabetes, comorbidities, and hearing-related symptoms in diabetic patients. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 patients with diabetes using a pretested proforma. Demographic characteristics, diabetes duration, and its complications and comorbidities were compiled using the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: More than half of the patients (70%) were diabetic for more than 21 years. Hypertension and heart disease were the most prevalent comorbidities (each 22%), followed by renal problems (20%). Complications related to hearing were the most significant, with 72% mentioning that they could not hear, 57% struggling with words that sounded alike, and 35% hearing echo sounds. Notwithstanding these symptoms, only 29% of them had seen an ENT specialist, and 11% wore hearing aids. Ear complications were the most commonly occurring diabetes complication at 46%, indicating a good correlation between long-term diabetes and hearing impairment. Conclusion: This paper highlights the high prevalence of symptoms of hearing loss in long-standing diabetic patients. Early detection and treatment by incorporating regular auditory screening into the standard diabetes management should be incorporated.
Downloads
References
1. Banday MZ, Sameer AS, Nissar S. Pathophysiology of diabetes: An overview. Avicenna journal of medicine. 2020;10(04):174-88.
https://doi.org/10.4103/ajm.ajm_53_20
2. Wheat LJ. Infection and diabetes mellitus. Diabetes care. 1980;3(1):187-97.
https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.3.1.187
3. Silva JAd, Souza ECFd, Echazú Böschemeier AG, Costa CCMd, Bezerra HS, Feitosa EELC. Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and living with a chronic condition: participatory study. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):699.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5637-9
4. Gioacchini FM, Pisani D, Viola P, Astorina A, Scarpa A, Libonati FA, et al. Diabetes mellitus and hearing loss: a complex relationship. Medicina. 2023;59(2):269.
https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59020269
5. Federation ID. Diabetes around the world in 2021. Secondary Diabetes around World in. 2021;2021.
6. Oleribe OO, Momoh J, Uzochukwu BS, Mbofana F, Adebiyi A, Barbera T, et al. Identifying key challenges facing healthcare systems in Africa and potential solutions. International journal of general medicine. 2019:395-403.
https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s223882
7. Mokhele T, Sewpaul R, Sifunda S, Weir-Smith G, Dlamini S, Manyaapelo T, et al. Spatial analysis of perceived health system capability and actual health system capacity for COVID-19 in South Africa. The Open Public Health Journal. 2021;14(1).
https://doi.org/10.2174/1874944502114010388
8. Ko S-H, Do Han K, Park Y-M, Yun J-S, Kim K, Bae J-H, et al. Diabetes mellitus in the elderly adults in Korea: based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019 to 2020. Diabetes & Metabolism Journal. 2023;47(5):643-52.
https://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2023.0041
9. Animaw W, Seyoum Y. Increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus in a developing country and its related factors. PloS one. 2017;12(11):e0187670.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0187670
10. Lam AA, Lepe A, Wild SH, Jackson C. Diabetes comorbidities in low-and middle-income countries: an umbrella review. Journal of global health. 2021;11:04040.
https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.11.04040
11. Chentli F, Azzoug S, Mahgoun S. Diabetes mellitus in elderly. Indian journal of endocrinology and metabolism. 2015;19(6):744-52.
https://doi.org/10.4103/2230-8210.167553
12. Deshpande AD, Harris-Hayes M, Schootman M. Epidemiology of diabetes and diabetes-related complications. Physical therapy. 2008;88(11):1254-64.
https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20080020
13. Sebothoma B, Khoza-Shangase K, Mol D, Masege D. The sensitivity and specificity of wideband absorbance measure in identifying pathologic middle ears in adults living with HIV. South African Journal of Communication Disorders. 2021;68(1):820.
https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v68i1.820
14. Khoza-Shangase K, Anastasiou J. An exploration of recorded otological manifestations in South African children with HIV/AIDS: A pilot study. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 2020;133:109960.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2020.109960
15. Dalton DS, Cruickshanks KJ, Klein R, Klein BE, Wiley TL. Association of NIDDM and hearing loss. Diabetes care. 1998;21(9):1540-4.
https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.21.9.1540
16. Aladag I, Eyibilen A, Güven M, Atış Ö, Erkokmaz Ü. Role of oxidative stress in hearing impairment in patients with type two diabetes mellitus. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 2009;123(9):957-63.
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022215109004502
17. Sakuta H, Suzuki T, Yasuda H, Ito T. Type 2 diabetes and hearing loss in personnel of the Self-Defense Forces. Diabetes research and clinical practice. 2007;75(2):229-34.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2006.06.029
18. Akinpelu OV, Mujica‐Mota M, Daniel SJ. Is type 2 diabetes mellitus associated with alterations in hearing? A systematic review and meta‐analysis. The Laryngoscope. 2014;124(3):767-76.
https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.24354
19. Horikawa C, Kodama S, Tanaka S, Fujihara K, Hirasawa R, Yachi Y, et al. Diabetes and risk of hearing impairment in adults: a meta-analysis. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2013;98(1):51-8.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Indus Journal of Bioscience Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
