Study of auditory function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Pulmonology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is frequently associated with chronic hypoxemia.
• Hypoxemia may impact various physiological systems, including auditory function.
• Auditory function changes in COPD patients are not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate auditory function in patients with COPD, focusing on the effects of chronic hypoxemia.
• To assess hearing sensitivity, peripheral auditory function, and brain-stem auditory pathways in COPD patients.
• To determine if hypoxemia is a risk factor for audio-vestibular dysfunction in COPD.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of COPD patients and a control group underwent comprehensive audiological testing.
• Tests included hearing sensitivity, otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), and auditory brain-stem response (ABR).
• Blood-gas analysis was performed to measure partial oxygen tension (PO2).

Main Results:

• COPD patients, especially those with lower PO2 (<75 mm Hg), showed statistically significant differences in audiological measures compared to controls.
• PO2 significantly correlated with hearing threshold, OAE amplitude (RA), and ABR I-V inter-peak latency.
• A PO2 of 70 mm Hg was identified as a critical threshold for normal auditory function, affecting hearing thresholds and OAEs.

Conclusions:

• Chronic hypoxemia in COPD patients is associated with subtle but physiologically significant declines in auditory function.
• While clinically significant hearing loss is uncommon, changes in OAEs and hearing thresholds suggest a link between hypoxemia and auditory system impact.
• COPD-related hypoxemia warrants further investigation as a potential risk factor for audio-vestibular dysfunction.