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Background Some viral infections can cause congenital or acquired unilateral or bilateral hearing loss. It is predicted that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus, which can affect many systems in the body, may also have a negative effect on hearing. Purpose This study evaluated the effects of COVID-19 infection on pure-tone average. Research Design A case–control study. Materials and Methods A total of 104 volunteers (48 control, 56 experimental group) who applied to the ENT clinic of Adıyaman University Training and Research Hospital were included in this study. After the detailed clinical examination and medical history, 13 volunteers of the experimental group and 5 volunteers from the control group were excluded from the study. In this way, each group consisted of 43 volunteers. While the experimental group consisted of patients who did not have any hearing problems before but had COVID-19. The control group consisted of healthy volunteers who did not have any hearing problems and were not infected with COVİD-19. Audiological test was applied to all volunteers to determine their pure-tone average. On the data obtained, it was analyzed whether COVID-19 affects the pure-tone average and how it changes according to variables such as age and gender. Results The evaluation of the 43 (50.0%) COVID-19-positive patients and 43 (50.0%) healthy controls showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) at 250 and 500 Hz, whereas at 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz, the two groups differed significantly. In addition, significant differences were found in the left and right ears at 1000 and 2000 Hz (p < 0.05). The differences between the two groups in the pure-tone average of the left and right ear were statistically significant (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant sex-based differences in the pure-tone average between males and females (p > 0.05) Conclusion The pure-tone average of COVID-19 positive patients was significantly worse than those of the healthy control group. Thus, COVID-19 should also be considered in patients presenting with unexplained hearing loss. Further studies should investigate the effects of COVID-19 on hearing and the underlying pathophysiology.

Background Tinnitus is a common auditory symptom. Dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is an essential part of the etiopathogenesis of tinnitus. ANS regulates heart rate and heart rhythm and can lead to ventricular repolarization changes, which can cause malignant ventricular arrhythmias. T wave peak-to-end T(p-e) interval and T(p-e)/QT ratio are known ventricular arrhythmia indexes, and the index of cardiac-electrophysiological balance (iCEB) is a novel index that can be used to predict the risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmia. The goal of the study was to investigate these ventricular arrhythmia indexes in patients with tinnitus. Methods The study population consisted of 240 patients with tinnitus and 240 healthy subjects. A standard 12-channel surface electrocardiogram was applied to both groups. T(p-e) interval, QT interval and QRS duration were determined. Corrected QT (QTc) was determined via Bazett’s formula. To predict ventricular arrhythmia, iCEB (QT/QRS), T(p-e)/QT, corrected iCEB (QTc/QRS) and T(p-e)/QTc values were determined and compared between groups. Results Compared to the control group, QT (376.46 ± 36.54 vs 346.52 ± 24.51 ms), QTc (426.68 ± 24.68 vs 390.42 ± 24.04 ms), T(p-e) (75.86 ± 14.68 vs 62.42 ± 8.64 ms), T(p-e)/QT (0.201 ± 0.06 vs 0.180 ± 0.01) and T(p-e)/QTc (0.177 ± 0.06 vs 0.159 ± 0.02) were significantly higher in patients with tinnitus (p < 0.001 for all). QT/QRS (3.92 ± 0.68 vs 3.56 ± 0.32) and QTc/QRS (4.44 ± 1.03 vs 4.01 ± 0.64) were also significantly higher in patients with tinnitus (p = 0.018 and p = 0.008, respectively). In addition, significant positive correlations were found between T(p-e), T(p-e)/QTc ratio and disease duration (r = 0.792, p < 0.001; r = 0.500, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion As a result, patients with tinnitus may have an increased risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmia.

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Objective: To evaluate the mental Health and Psychosocial status, thoughts about the measures taken by the government, attitudes, and behaviors of HCWs facing the Covid-19 pandemic.Methods: A 56-question multiple-choice survey was performed by a one-to-one interview with the HCWs in 3 registered hospitals fighting the Covid-19 pandemic from 20 May to 10 June 2020. Mental health variables were assessed via the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) and the Turkish Beck Depression Scale to specify psychological manifestations. A scoring system was applied using a four-point Likert scale, from no points (“strongly disagree”) to three points (“strongly agree”) to determine the levels of anxiety and depression.Results: A total of 300 HCWs (45 physicians, 255 non-physician health care workers) enrolled in the survey. Only 0.8% of HCWs took psychological support from a therapist or psychiatrist. The most common concern about Covid-19 pandemic was that “the elderly and other risky population was being infected” (37.9%). 89.2% HCWs who felt the concern was that they had changed their thoughts with the information they got from television (P= 0.005, χ2= 20.271). Compared with non-physician HCWs, the physicians about the spreading of the Covid- 19 felt more the concern (%80 vs %47.1, p= 0.006 χ2=12.591) and physicians higher rate agreed that the number of tests being performed was sufficient enough. (53.3% vs. 41.2%, p=0.030, OR:0.29-0.35, χ2: 7.047), For all HCWs, the "feeling of being infected with Covid-19” item had the highest mean total score (2.60 ± 0.97). The mean score of “feeling nervous/anxious/on edge” item was 2.53±0.52 for physicians, and 2.26±0.86 for non-physician HCWs. Non-physicians HCWs had a higher mean score for “Feeling of increased body pain and agony” item than physicians (0.27±0.80 vs 0.76±1.23; mean dif= -0.50, 95% confidence interval=-1.002 to 0.006, p<0.05).Conclusions:The results of this survey study showed that the highest anxiety score for all healthcare professionals was the “feeling of being infected with covid-19”. Both physicians and non-physicians HCWs were feeling nervous/anxious/on edge largely according to anxiety scores.