Puretone Hearing Threshold Of Patients With Sickle Cell Disease In Kaduna, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is characterised by the vaso-occlusive crisis, which can cause progressive cochlea damage resulting in hearing loss. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hearing loss and establish the hearing threshold of patients with sickle cell disease at the study centre. Methods: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study on participants with sickle cell disease and normal controls between 5-50 years of age. Otolaryngological examination and Pure tone audiometry were carried out on all participants in a soundproof booth at the National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna. The Sickle cell patients were randomly selected from the Sickle cell patient promotion centre Kaduna and Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna. The collated data were analysed descriptively with the Statistical Package of Social Sciences. (SPSS version 25). Result: Sixty-two subjects with Sickle cell disease and 62 with normal (HbAA) controls were assessed. The ages of subjects ranged between 6-41 years, while the HbAA was 5–49 years, with mean ages of 14.8 ± 8.1 years for SCD and 20.8 ± 13.3 years for HbAA controls. The mean Puretone threshold of the adult with SCD in the right and left ears were 25.5dB and 25.15dB, while that of Paediatrics with SCD were 21.5dB and 21.4dB, respectively, and it is consistently higher in those with SCD than the controls but the difference was not statistically significant. The prevalence of hearing loss in SCD was 30.6% and 16.1% in the control group (χ2=3.65 and P=0.056). The prevalence of hearing loss in those <15 years was 27%, and in those ≥15 years was 36% in the subjects with HbSS/HbSC. Among those with hearing losses, the majority had mild SNHL (89.7%) in the HbSS/HBSc and 94.4% in the HbAA group. Also, ten patients had bilateral affectation in HbSS/HbSC group compared to eight in the HbAA (χ2=3.94, P=0.021). Conclusion: The prevalence of hearing loss in patients with SCD is 30.6% and it is higher in those ≥15 years. Many cases are asymptomatic, hence the need for SCD patients in our environment to have their hearing checked regularly.