Correlation between rheumatoid arthritis and hearing loss

ABSTRACT

To determine correlation between rheumatoid arthritis and hearing loss a case control study with 101 patients and 101 controls was performed. The mean age of patients was 49.69 +/- 13.37 and 86.1% of them were female. Physical examination and audiometric tests were performed. The mean hearing threshold for patients was 21.5 +/- 10.2 and 11.8 +/- 5.2 for control groups [P=0.000]. The prevalence of high frequency hearing loss was 3.05 times in cases group [32.2% versus 10.9%] [P=0.000] and the prevalence of low frequency hearing loss was 9.4% in cases group [9.4% versus 0.0%] [P=0.000]. In spite of no clinical complains of hearing loss, it is frequent in Rheumatoid arthritis, and we recommend evaluation of the patients in this respect