Sensorineural Hearing Loss among Hypertensives.

BACKGROUND: The effect of hypertension on the vascular system leads to Target Organ Damage (TOD). The cochlea is one of the target organs affected by hypertension, giving rise to Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL). OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and pattern of Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL) among hypertensives. DESIGN: Case-Control Study. SETTING: Tertiary hospital. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and twenty six hypertensives, aged 21 to 60 years and a corresponding number of age and sex matched control. METHODOLOGY: Eligible participants were prospectively evaluated. Their blood pressures were verified, hearing thresholds assessed through Pure Tone Audiometry, Pure Tone Average were calculated and the types and degree of hearing loss were confirmed. Data was analyzed using SPSS 21 and statistical significance was set at p-value 0.05. RESULTS: Each group had 127 (56.19% ) females and 99 ( 43.81 % ) males. The difference in the mean age between the cases (40.02 ± 0.70years) and the controls (37.42 ± 0.47years) was not statistically significant (p = 0.542).The difference in the mean Pure Tone Average in dBHL between the cases (15.53± 6.95) and the controls (13.98 ± 4.35) was significant (p = 0.005) with a 12.83% prevalence of SNHL among the hypertensives against 1.77% in the controls. Majority (96.6 %) of them demonstrated bilateral, symmetrical, mild SNHL with 51.7% of them being above 50 years. The odds ratio in this study was 8.17 (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a SNHL prevalence of 12.83% with a mild, bilateral, symmetrical pattern among hypertensives; increasing with advanced age and an eight-fold risk of occurrence.

Age-related hearing loss at Gwagwalada area council of federal capital territory, Abuja.

BACKGROUND: Presbyacusis is a cause of hearing loss in adults worldwide. It is a type of auditory dysfunction thought to be due to a series of insults over time including agerelated degeneration, noise exposure, and diseases of the ear. It usually affects the high frequencies of hearing. Presbyacusis has a tremendous impact on the quality of life of millions of the aged and is fast becoming an increasingly prevalent disorder as the population ages. Nigerian population is becoming progressively older making it imperative to focus on this area of research. It is worth noting that the Nigerian public health system does not have an effective and sustainable hearing loss screening strategy for lateonset hearing loss in adults. AIM/OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the hearing threshold and pure tone audiometric pattern/s seen in participants with agerelated hearing loss (ARHL) in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal capital territoryAbuja. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was a prospective communitybased crosssectional study, and a multistage sampling technique was adopted for this study, conducted at Gwagwalada, Abuja. Individuals from 55 years and above were recruited into the study after signing an informed consent. After a thorough and detailed clinical assessment, tympanometry and diagnostic puretone audiometry were carried out in all the participants. RESULT: One hundred and fourteen participants were recruited into the study, out of which fourteen were excluded from the analysis on account of various exclusion criteria. The age range of the participants was 55 to 79 years, with a mean age of 65.8 ± 5.6 years.Twentyfive (25.0%) participants had normal hearing threshold, while seventyfive (75.0%) participants had sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). CONCLUSION: The study showed that the prevalence of ARHL from age 55 years and above at Gwagwalada Area Council, of FCT, Abuja was 75.0%.

EVALUATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE LEVELS IN ABUJA MUNICIPALITY USING MOBILE PHONES.

BACKGROUND: Noise remains a nuisance which impacts negatively on the physical, social and psychological wellbeing of man. It aggravates chronic illnesses like hypertension and other cardiopulmonary diseases. Unfortunately, increased activities from industrialization and technological transfers/drifts have tumultuously led to increased noise pollution in most of our fast growing cities today and hence the need for concerted efforts in monitoring and regulating our environmental noise. OBJECTIVE: To assess the equivalent noise level (Leq) in Abuja municipality and promote a simple method for regular assessment of Leq within our environment. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional community based study of the environmental Leq of Abuja municipality conducted between January 2014 and January 2016. The city was divided into 12 segments including residential, business and market areas via the Abuja Geographic Information System. The major markets were captured separately on a different scale. Measurements were taken with the mobile phone softwares having validated this with Extech 407730 digital sound level meter, serial no Z310135. Leq(A) were measured at different points and hours of the day and night. The average Leq(A) were classified according to localities and compared with WHO standard safety levels. RESULTS: LeqD ranged 71-92dB(A); 42-79dB(A) and 69-90dB(A) in business/ parks, residential and market places respectively. The Night measurements were similar 18dB(A)-56dB(A) and the day-night Leq(A)=77.2dB(A) and 90.4dB(A) for residential and business zones. CONCLUSION: The night noise levels are satisfactory but the day and day-night levels are above the recommended tolerable values by WHO and therefore urgently call for awareness and legislative regulations.