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Does coronavirus affect the audio-vestibular system? A rapid systematic review
Ibrahim Almufarrij1,2, Kai Uus1, Kevin J Munro1,3
1Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
International Journal of Audiology
|June 13, 2020
Summary
Audio-vestibular symptoms like hearing loss and vertigo are rarely reported in COVID-19 patients. Further high-quality research is needed to understand the long-term effects of coronavirus on the audio-vestibular system.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The association between coronavirus infections and audio-vestibular symptoms is not well-established.
- Previous coronavirus strains, such as SARS and MERS, did not report audio-vestibular issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and investigate audio-vestibular symptoms in individuals with coronavirus infections, particularly COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- A rapid systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
- Risk of bias was assessed using NIH quality assessment tools.
- Included five case reports and two cross-sectional studies after screening over 2300 records.
Main Results:
- No audio-vestibular symptoms were documented in association with SARS or MERS.
- Hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo were rarely reported in individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- The available studies were of poor quality, reporting mostly minor audio-vestibular symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Audio-vestibular symptoms in COVID-19 cases are infrequent and generally mild.
- Long-term consequences of COVID-19, including audio-vestibular dysfunction, warrant attention.
- High-quality studies are essential to elucidate both acute and long-term effects of COVID-19 on the audio-vestibular system.
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