Hearing Loss in Beta-Thalassemia: Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Otolaryngology
• Genetics

Background:

• Beta-thalassemia survival has improved significantly due to medical advancements.
• Increased survival has led to a rise in comorbidities, notably hearing loss.
• Hearing impairment negatively impacts the quality of life for beta-thalassemia patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze existing literature on hearing impairment in beta-thalassemia.
• To determine the prevalence, characteristics, and progression of hearing loss in this population.
• To investigate potential disease-related and treatment-related pathogenic factors.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review following PRISMA criteria.
• Inclusion of 60 studies published between 1979 and 2021.
• Analysis of diagnostic tools, hearing impairment types, and correlations with clinical and laboratory findings.

Main Results:

• The overall prevalence of hearing impairment in beta-thalassemia patients is 32.3%.
• No significant correlation was found between hearing deficits and age, sex, or laboratory findings like iron overload.
• A weak association with clinical phenotype and chelation treatment suggests unidentified pathogenic factors.

Conclusions:

• Despite improved survival, hearing loss is a significant comorbidity in beta-thalassemia.
• Current knowledge is limited, necessitating large prospective studies with standardized methods.
• Unidentified factors likely contribute to hearing impairment in beta-thalassemia patients.