[Correlation between serum aldosterone level and hearing condition of elderly patients referred to otolaryngology services of Hamadan, Western Iran]

ABSTRACT

Recently, more attention was paid to the direct protective effect of aldosterone against hearing impairment in elderly patients. The aim of this study was determination of possible correlation between serum aldosterone level and hearing condition of elderly patients that referred to the Otolaryngology services of Hamadan in 2005-2006. In this case control study 54 [27 males, 27 females] persons above 60 years old were evaluated. They contained twenty eight cases with normal hearing and 26 cases with presbycusis. Persons with any abnormal biochemical finding or history of conditions that predispose them to the sensorineural hearing loss [SNHL] were excluded. In both groups serum level of sodium, potassium and aldosterone were measured and hearing condition evaluated by puretone, speech and immitance audiometry. Statistical relationship between serum aldosterone level and hearing condition, sex, configuration of audiogram and speech discrimination score [SDS] were not significant. In addition, no significant relationship between sodium and potassium levels with hearing conditon was found [p>0.05]. This study could not confirm protective effect of aldostrone against prebycusis. This discrepancy may originate from epidemiologic differences, laboratory errors or small sample size