Etiology and Clinical Characteristics of Conductive Hearing Loss at a Tertiary Hospital in Sudan

Background Conductive hearing loss (CHL) is a significant contributor to hearing impairment, especially in low-income settings. Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is often a dominant cause in developing regions. This study examined the causes and clinical profiles of patients with CHL at Khartoum Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Hospital. Methods We conducted a retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study of 106 patients diagnosed with CHL (confirmed by audiometry or tuning-fork testing) who presented between October 2021 and March 2022. Demographic data, etiologies, and associated symptoms were extracted from medical records and analysed descriptively. Results The cohort (mean age 27 years) comprised 61 (57.5%) female patients, predominantly young adults with 54 (51%) patients aged 18-35 years. CSOM was the leading cause of CHL, affecting 50 (47.2%) patients, far exceeding other etiologies. Smaller proportions were due to ear canal foreign bodies in seven (6.6%) participants, external auditory polyps in seven (6.6%), otosclerosis in five (4.7%), and various others (each <4%). The majority of cases were acquired, seen in 99 cases (93.4%) and only four (3.8%) were congenital cases. Most patients had mild-to-moderate hearing loss, with 50 (47.2%) patients reporting progressive loss. Common accompanying symptoms included ear discharge in 70 people (66.0%), tinnitus in 62 (58.9%), ear pain in 61 (57.5%), vertigo in 36 (34.0%), and ear itch in 28 (26.4%) participants.  Conclusion CSOM predominated as the etiology of CHL in this Sudanese ENT hospital, reflecting a high burden of preventable ear infection. The findings underscore the need for early detection and management of CSOM and related conditions to reduce CHL. The data from this study highlights the need for public health intervention in tackling preventable infectious diseases in Khartoum.