Characterization of otologic symptoms appearing after COVID-19 vaccination.

OBJECTIVES: Anecdotal reports of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) following COVID-19 vaccination have emerged in the otolaryngology community. Studies have demonstrated no association between COVID-19 vaccination and SSNHL. We aim to characterize the spectrum of otologic symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of patients seen in the otology clinic at an academic center was performed. Patients completed a questionnaire on the development of new otologic symptoms within 4 weeks of COVID-19 vaccination. Diagnostic and audiometric data was collected retrospectively for patients reporting otologic symptoms. RESULTS: Between May and July 2021, 500 patients were screened. Median age was 56.6 years old, with 59.4 % female and 40.2 % male. 420 patients (84.0 %) were vaccinated, with 58.4 % receiving Pfizer, 29.1 % receiving Moderna, and 3.8 % receiving Johnson & Johnson. 61 patients (14.5 %) reported one or more otologic symptoms within 4 weeks of vaccination, including 21 (5.0 %) with hearing loss, 26 (6.2 %) with tinnitus, 33 (7.9 %) with dizziness, and 19 (4.5 %) with vertigo. Of the 16 patients (3.2 %) reporting tinnitus with no associated hearing loss, 8 were diagnosed with subjective tinnitus and 4 were diagnosed with temporomandibular joint syndrome. Of the 18 patients reporting hearing loss, 11 had exacerbations of underlying pathologies (e.g. Meniere's disease, presbycusis) and 7 were newly diagnosed with SSNHL (1.4 %). CONCLUSIONS: Patients reporting otologic symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination received various diagnoses of uncertain etiology. The incidence of SSNHL in these patients is comparable to the general otology patient population. Additional studies are required to determine the incidence of specific diagnoses following vaccination.

Characterization of otologic symptoms appearing after COVID-19 vaccination

Objectives Anecdotal reports of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) following COVID-19 vaccination have emerged in the otolaryngology community. Studies have demonstrated no association between COVID-19 vaccination and SSNHL. We aim to characterize the spectrum of otologic symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination. Methods A cross-sectional study of patients seen in the otology clinic at an academic center was performed. Patients completed a questionnaire on the development of new otologic symptoms within 4 weeks of COVID-19 vaccination. Diagnostic and audiometric data was collected retrospectively for patients reporting otologic symptoms. Results Between May and July 2021, 500 patients were screened. Median age was 56.6 years old, with 59.4 % female and 40.2 % male. 420 patients (84.0 %) were vaccinated, with 58.4 % receiving Pfizer, 29.1 % receiving Moderna, and 3.8 % receiving Johnson & Johnson. 61 patients (14.5 %) reported one or more otologic symptoms within 4 weeks of vaccination, including 21 (5.0 %) with hearing loss, 26 (6.2 %) with tinnitus, 33 (7.9 %) with dizziness, and 19 (4.5 %) with vertigo. Of the 16 patients (3.2 %) reporting tinnitus with no associated hearing loss, 8 were diagnosed with subjective tinnitus and 4 were diagnosed with temporomandibular joint syndrome. Of the 18 patients reporting hearing loss, 11 had exacerbations of underlying pathologies (e.g. Meniere's disease, presbycusis) and 7 were newly diagnosed with SSNHL (1.4 %). Conclusions Patients reporting otologic symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination received various diagnoses of uncertain etiology. The incidence of SSNHL in these patients is comparable to the general otology patient population. Additional studies are required to determine the incidence of specific diagnoses following vaccination.

Angiotensin converting enzyme genotypes and mortality from COVID-19: An ecological study.

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) genotypes are known to be associated with development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and resultant mortality. In the present study, we examined the association between distribution frequency of ACE genotypes and COVID-19 mortality. METHODS: We undertook an ecological study to examine the association between ACE genotypes and COVID-19 mortality across 25 countries to represent different geographical regions of the world. The population frequencies of ACE genotypes were drawn from previously published reports and data on COVID-19-related mortality were extracted from 'Worldometer'. Multivariable analyses were also undertaken adjusting for age (median age), sex (percentage of females) and the number of COVID-19 tests undertaken. Associations between genotypes deletion/deletion (DD) and insertion/insertion (II) prevalence and COVID-19-related mortality (per million people per day since the first diagnosed case) were evaluated. RESULTS: The frequency of II genotype is highest in east Asian countries and lower among the European and African countries. An inverse geographical distribution frequency was noted for DD genotype. Increasing II genotype frequency was significantly associated with decreased COVID-19 mortality rates (adjusted incident rate ratio [IRR] 0.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.002-0.7, p = 0.03). However, no association was found between DD genotype frequency and COVID-19 mortality rates (adjusted IRR 4.3, 95% CI: 0.5-41.2, p = 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: Distribution frequency of ACE insertion/insertion (II) genotype may have a significant influence on COVID-19 mortality. This information has potential utility for resource planning at a systemic level, as well as for clinical management.