Audiovestibular Symptoms in Osteoporotic Postmenopausal Dominican Women – Cureus
Introduction: Previous publications have suggested a link between decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and audiovestibular symptoms. Being the first study, to our knowledge, in the Caribbean region, we aimed to determine the relationship between hearing impairment, vertigo, and tinnitus with BMD in a Dominican postmenopausal population diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional, single-center study was conducted. Patients were enrolled using a previous dat…….
Introduction: Previous publications have suggested a link between decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and audiovestibular symptoms. Being the first study, to our knowledge, in the Caribbean region, we aimed to determine the relationship between hearing impairment, vertigo, and tinnitus with BMD in a Dominican postmenopausal population diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional, single-center study was conducted. Patients were enrolled using a previous database of Dominican postmenopausal women from 2008 to 2015, including a total of 101 participants. Patients were questioned for hearing difficulty, tinnitus, and vertigo. Body mass index (BMI), Bone Mineral Density (BMD) using T-scores, FRAX score, serum levels of 25-(OH) vitamin D, corrected calcium, phosphate, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, and smoking history were assessed. Statistical analysis was conducted using Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U test, and Odds Ratio.
Results: Median age was 74 years with an interquartile range (IQR) of 12. Fifty-six patients had osteoporosis and 42 osteopenia. Women with osteoporosis diagnosed using a femoral neck T-score demonstrated a greater level of association as well as higher odds of developing vertigo and hearing difficulty than those diagnosed using a hip T-score.
Conclusion: Special attention to the otologic evaluation of these patients as well as increasing the referral to a specialized consult is suggested. Additional multicenter prospective national studies are needed.
Introduction
Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, is a common affliction of the elderly. It typically begins around the age of 60, but certain stressors have been shown to accelerate its rate of decline. Initially believed to be associated with degenerative changes in the peripheral auditory system and plasticity in central neural processing, presbycusis is now recognized as a complex condition involving genetic predisposition, anatomical changes, noise exposure, hormones, ototoxic medications, head trauma, ear-related conditions, and some systemic diseases [1-4]. Previous studies proposed the association between osteoporosis and hearing loss, although conflicting results have been stated [4].
The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that by 2025, almost 500 million people aged 60 and older will have substantial age-related hearing loss [1]. Its impact has been demonstrated to largely affect low and middle-income countries, which have greater age-standardized rates of moderate-to-complete hearing loss than high-income countries. In addition, the disability burden attributable to hearing loss is concentrated in countries with limited access to health care, where hearing aid coverage is low and patients are least likely to obtain the care they require [5].
Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitecture deterioration of bone tissue, resulting in increased fracture risk [6]. It is also the most prevalent illness in postmenopausal women, primarily owing to estrogen’s crucial role in maintaining bone health [7]. Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) has been associated with demineralization of the temporal bones, specifically their petrous portion, which contains the components of the inner ear. This might partially explain the association between hearing loss …….
