Hearing loss linked to severity of diabetic neuropathy in type 2 diabetes patients

Punjab: A recent study showed an association between age, nephropathy, and neuropathy with hearing loss (HL) among patients with diabetes. The study was published in the Journal Of The Association Of Physicians Of India (JAPI). 

Furthermore, the researchers found worsening hearing loss with worsening severity of neuropathy and an increase in the levels of glycated haemoglobin (Hba1c), indicating that patients with moderate to severe neuropathy might benefit from screening for HL.

Abin M Abraham and colleagues investigated the prevalence of hearing loss (HL) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its correlation with the presence and severity of diabetic neuropathy. The study, conducted on patients aged between 30 and 60 years with T2DM, divided them into three groups based on their neuropathy status.

● Out of the 200 participants, the overall prevalence of HL was found to be 81%.

● In the different groups, 66.7% of patients without neuropathy (Group I), 80.9% with mild neuropathy (Group II), and 87.6% with moderate to severe neuropathy (Group III) experienced HL.

● The prevalence of clinically significant HL (CSHL) was notably higher in patients with moderate to severe neuropathy (33.3%).

● The study revealed that age, gender, presence of neuropathy, and its severity were associated with an increased risk of developing HL.

● The severity of HL worsened with the progression of neuropathy severity and an increase in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels.

The limitations of the study were the prevalence of clinically significant hearing loss (CSHL) may be even higher in patients with severe neuropathy than what was observed in our study. Future research with larger sample sizes and a focus on patients with severe neuropathy can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the risk of hearing loss in this population. Additionally, employing self-reported questionnaires in further studies can help assess the effectiveness of these tools in screening patients for hearing loss.

The study did not examine the treatment and outcomes of patients diagnosed with hearing loss. To address this gap, future randomized controlled trials could investigate the treatment outcomes in patients with diabetic neuropathy and hearing loss, leading to improved screening and treatment recommendations for this patient group.

These findings emphasize the importance of monitoring hearing in patients with diabetes, particularly those with moderate to severe neuropathy. Early detection and management of HL in this population may improve overall patient outcomes and quality of life. Clinicians should consider screening for HL in patients with diabetes, especially those with neuropathy, to address potential hearing issues promptly.

Reference:

Abraham AM, Jacob JJ, Varghese A. Prevalence of Hearing Loss in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Its Association with Severity of Diabetic Neuropathy and Glycemic Control. J Assoc Physicians India 2023;71(6):14–19