The prevalence of hearing loss in children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A longitudinal population-based
Abdullah Alenazi1, Gabrielle Derraugh1, Mathew Levesque1
1Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Manitoba and Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba.
Insights
Children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) have a significantly higher risk of hearing loss. This study found CDH is linked to hearing impairment, suggesting congenital factors play a role.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Otolaryngology
- Genetics
Background:
- The prevalence of hearing loss in children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is not well-established, with prior estimates reaching up to 60%.
- Understanding this association is crucial for early detection and intervention in affected children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of hearing loss in pediatric patients diagnosed with CDH.
- To compare hearing loss rates in CDH patients against age-matched control groups.
Main Methods:
- Utilized population-based datasets to identify children under 10 years old with CDH and matched controls born between 1992-2009.
- Analyzed factors related to CDH severity and conducted sensitivity analyses for potential biases.
- Employed Fisher's exact tests for statistical comparison, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Main Results:
- The study included 38 CDH cases and 491 controls. Hearing loss was diagnosed in 18.4% of CDH patients versus 5.3% of controls.
- Children with CDH exhibited a 3.48-fold increased risk of hearing loss (p=0.006).
- No correlation was found between CDH disease severity and the occurrence of hearing loss.
Conclusions:
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is significantly associated with an increased risk of hearing loss in children.
- Findings suggest that intrinsic congenital factors, rather than perinatal events, may be primary contributors to hearing impairment in CDH patients.
Background:
The true prevalence of hearing loss among children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is unknown, with some studies reporting rates up to 60%.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of hearing loss among children with CDH and compare it to age-matched controls.
Methods:
We used population-based datasets to compare the number of hearing loss diagnoses in children younger than 10 years-of-age born between 1992 and 2009 with CDH to date-of-birth matched controls without CDH. Factors associated with CDH disease severity were analyzed to determine their effect on the prevalence of hearing loss. A sensitivity analysis was performed to determine if selection bias of improved care over the course of the study affected hearing loss in CDH patients. The prevalences of hearing loss were compared using Fisher's exact tests and statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05.
Results:
A total of 529 children, 38 CDH cases and their 491 date-of-birth matched controls, met the inclusion criteria. Hearing loss was found in 7 children with CDH (18.4%) compared to 26 (5.3%) controls; the risk ratio (RR) of hearing loss was 3.48 (95%CI = 1.61-7.49, p = 0.006). There was no association between CDH disease severity and hearing loss.
Conclusions:
CDH is associated with hearing loss compared to the general population. Our results suggest that congenital factors may contribute to hearing loss in CDH more than perinatal exposures.
Level Of Evidence:
3.
