[Prevalence of hearing loss in a high-specialty medical unit]

Hearing impairment constitutes the fourth leading cause of disability on a global scale, predominantly affecting geriatric patients. In 2023, deafness was identified in the Hospital de Especialidades (Specialties Hospital) "Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda" as the main reason for consultation in the Otorhinolaryngology Department, accounting for a total of 1755 cases, while it occupied second place in the Audiology Department with 1723 cases.

To identify the prevalence of hearing loss in the Mexican population attended as beneficiaries in a high specialty medical unit in Mexico City in 2023.

An observational, cross-sectional, retrospective, and descriptive study was carried out based on the records of patients who attended the Audiology Department from January 1 to December 31, 2023. Data were collected from the Electronic Medical Record, including age, gender, symptoms, diagnosis, type, severity and laterality of hearing loss.

A total of 3396 patients with hearing impairment were obtained. The prevalence of hearing loss in 2023 in the Audiology Department was 68.6%, predominantly in female patients, with a superficial degree, sensorineural type and over 60 years of age.

In the Hospital de Especialidades "Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda", 2 out of 3 patients who come to the Audiology Department present some degree of hearing impairment, mainly due to a sensorineural condition.