Oxidative stress markers and brainstem auditory evoked potential in premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal...

To measure biomarkers of oxidative stress and to determine hearing sensitivity by auditory brainstem response in premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

The cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted in the departments of Physiology and Audiology at the Post-Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore, and the Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from November 2020 to November 2021, and comprised healthy female subjects grouped into premenopausal group 1, perimenopausal group 2 and postmenopausal group 3 as per their menstrual history. Blood samples were taken for measuring biological indicators of oxidative damage, while auditory integrity was assessed by measuring absolute latencies of waves I, III, V and interpeak latency of waves III and V at an intensity of 80dB by performing brainstem auditory evoked potential. Data was analysed using SPSS 23.

Of the 45 subjects, 15(33.3%) with mean age 41.3±1.9 years were in group 1, 15(33.3%) with mean age 46.7 ± 3.7 years were in group 2, and 15(33.3%) with mean age 55.8±2.7 years were in group 3. Significantly increased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance were found in group 3 compared to groups 1 and 2 (p<0.05). Regarding auditory brainstem response, a significant increase was observed in absolute latencies of waves I, III, V and interpeak latency between waves III and V in group 3 compared to the other groups (p<0.05).

Oxidative stress had a debilitating impact on hearing sensitivity related to the menopausal status of women.