Analysis of the characteristics of outpatient and emergency diseases in the department of otolaryngology during the “COVID-19” pandemic

Jin, Ling; Fan, Kai; Tan, Shiwang; Liu, Shuangxi; Wang, Yang; Yu, Shiying

doi:10.1177/00368504211036319

Cited by 13 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(37 reference statements)

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“…A study from Turkey found an increased incidence of SSNHL during the COVID-19 epidemic, with 60.3% of subjects having signs compatible with COVID-19 ( 18 ). A large tertiary hospital in China also found an increase in SSNHL visits to the outpatient and emergency departments during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the past ( 19 ). However, several studies found no increase in the incidence of SSNHL after the COVID-19 outbreak, concluding that SARS-CoV-2 does not appear to have a significant risk of SSNHL development ( 20 – 23 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 and Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review

et al. 2022

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A growing body of evidence suggests that patients with the 2019 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have a risk of developing sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). The pathogenesis of COVID-19-related SSNHL remains unclear. This systematic review examined whether COVID-19 causes an increased incidence of SSNHL and the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19-related SSNHL according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. SSNHL usually developed between a few days and 2 months after the diagnosis of COVID-19, and a proportion of patients developed it before the diagnosis of COVID-19. The literature is inconsistent regarding whether COVID-19 causes an increased incidence of SSNHL, and this matter remains unclear. This review included 23 patients with COVID-19-related SSNHL, all adult patients with an average age of 43.1 years. Of these patients, 60.9% had accompanying tinnitus symptoms. Glucocorticoids are the preferred medication to treat COVID-19-related SSNHL. Intratympanic administration may be considered to reduce the side effects of the drug. Hearing tests are suggested when hearing loss is suspected in COVID-19 individuals, and if SSNHL is detected, prompt and aggressive treatment is vital. Large-scale, multicenter research on the pathophysiology, treatment, and prognosis of COVID-19- related SSNHL should be conducted in the future.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 and Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review

et al. 2022

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“…Among the 119 hospitalized SARS-CoV-2-PCR-positive patients, tinnitus comprised 11% of otolaryngological complaints ( 10 ). In addition, during the pandemic, it was observed that significantly more patients sought professional help for tinnitus in tertiary healthcare institutions than before the pandemic ( 11 ). In a large UK-based survey-based study that enclosed 6,881 subjects with a sub-sample of 1,274 individuals who had tinnitus prior to the pandemic, tinnitus worsened significantly more in those who contracted COVID-19 than in the non-infected ones.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 and the Pandemic on Tinnitus Patients

et al. 2022

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This study aimed to explore the effect of COVID-19 and the pandemic period on the tinnitus-related complaints of patients with chronic tinnitus. Ninety-six patients who were diagnosed with chronic tinnitus before the pandemic were enrolled in this study. Before the pandemic and in January 2022, all patients used the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to assess tinnitus loudness, annoyance, and effect on everyday life, sleep, and concentration. Additionally, patients filled the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ). In the entire cohort, tinnitus loudness, annoyance, and tinnitus-induced difficulties with concentration as well as THI and HQ scores increased significantly during the two pandemic years. Thirty-seven tinnitus patients contracted COVID-19 between March 2020 and January 2022. These patients were asked to list leading COVID-19 symptoms, changes in tinnitus complaints during and after the disease, and whether their hearing abilities were affected. Three patients in the COVID-19 group confirmed worsening their hearing abilities. There was no decrease in the tinnitus complaint during COVID-19, 24.3% of the infected patients reported exacerbation of tinnitus, and 75.7% said tinnitus remained the same. In the COVID-19-negative group, 13.5% reported tinnitus decrease during the pandemic, 57.6% said it remained the same, and 28.8% reported exacerbation of tinnitus. When split into infected and non-infected groups, a significant increase in tinnitus loudness, tinnitus effect on concentration, and THI scores were seen only in patients who contracted COVID-19, while hyperacusis worsened significantly (p < 0.05) only in COVID-19-negative tinnitus patients. Despite significant differences within the groups, there were no differences found between the groups. This study points to possible different effects of the infection with SARS-CoV-2 and the pandemic period on patients with chronic tinnitus. It also provides evidence for deterioration of preexisting tinnitus as a possible long-term effect of COVID-19.

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“…Mustafa ( 2020 ), however, highlighted that the lack of significant COVID-19 symptoms does not necessarily provide assurance that cochlear function is healthy and safe. Several studies reviewed indicate the presence of SSNHL with or without tinnitus and vertigo (Beckers et al, 2021 ; Chern et al, 2021 ; Gallus et al, 2021 ; Jin et al, 2021 ; Kimura et al, 2021 ; Korkmaz et al, 2021 ; Koumpa et al, 2020 ; Munro et al, 2020 ; Ricciardiello et al, 2021 ) with nonspecific symptoms such as SSNHL being reported as possibly being the sole feature that could be used to identify a COVID-19 case (Kilic et al, 2020 ). The reported rate of otological or vestibular symptoms varied significantly.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, as COVID-19 is a viral infection, prompt diagnosis of hearing impairment is critical because prompt treatment of viral-induced hearing loss has been proven to yield positive outcomes, while unidentified or late-identified permanent hearing impairment has well-documented negative impacts on the quality of life of the individuals affected (Saniasiaya, 2021 ). Interestingly, Jin et al ( 2021 ) also reported that quality of life has been impacted by COVID-19 by raising mental-related disease patients of the otolaryngology department (e.g. panic, anxiety, depression and sleep disorders).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cochleovestibular findings linked to COVID-19: A scoping review for clinical care planning in South Africa

Khoza-Shangase

2022

SAJCD

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Background: On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared an outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to be a global health emergency. Research has focused on the impact and response to life-threatening symptoms of COVID-19 across the lifespan; however, there is a need to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on the cochleovestibular system, as viral infections are known to impact this system. This is particularly important for contexts where resources are limited and prioritisation of resources requires strong risk versus benefit evaluations.Objective: Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review was to investigate published evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on the cochleovestibular system across the lifespan in order to allow for strategic clinical care planning in South Africa, where capacity versus demand challenges exist.Methods: Electronic bibliographic databases such as CINAHL, EBSCOHost, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus and ScienceDirect were searched for peer-reviewed publications between January 2020 and January 2022. These had to be published in English and related to the impact of COVID-19 on the cochleovestibular system, where the question was: 'what evidence has been published on the impact of COVID-19 on the cochleovestibular system?' Review selection and characterisation was performed by the researcher with an independent review by a colleague using pretested forms.Results: Of a total of 24 studies that met the inclusion criteria, the current scoping review revealed limited conclusive published evidence linking COVID-19 to permanent hearing function symptoms. Current evidence supports the possibility of COVID-19, similar to other viral infections in adults, impacting the cochleovestibular system and causing tinnitus, vertigo and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), with the symptoms being generally temporary and resolving either partially or completely following therapy with steroids, with very inconclusive findings in the paediatric population. Conclusion:These findings raise global implications for properly designed studies, which include longitudinal follow-up of cases across the lifespan, examining this link with some focus on establishing the pathophysiologic mechanisms at play as well. In the meanwhile, current findings raise the value of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for all patients presenting with unexplained cochleovestibular symptoms during the pandemic, as these may be the only presenting symptoms indicating COVID-19, thus requiring careful treatment and management.

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Analysis of the characteristics of outpatient and emergency diseases in the department of otolaryngology during the “COVID-19” pandemic

Cited by 13 publications

References 36 publications

COVID-19 and Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review

COVID-19 and Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review

Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 and the Pandemic on Tinnitus Patients

Cochleovestibular findings linked to COVID-19: A scoping review for clinical care planning in South Africa

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