Hearing Loss in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has many characteristics of autoimmune diseases. Sensorineural hearing loss has been reported in many autoimmune diseases. Little is known about hearing loss in patients with IBD. Methods: A prospective blinded comparative study was conducted over a 3-year period. IBD patients and controls underwent a complete otolaryngology examination and audiometry test. Results: A total of 105 participants (76 patients and 29 controls) took part in this study. A total of 59 (77%) had Crohn’s disease (CD) and 17 (23%) had ulcerative colitis (UC). Mean age was 36 years, 51% were males and 40% of the patients were presently hospitalized due to IBD exacerbation. Sixteen of 76 (21%) of the IBD patients complained of hearing loss since first IBD diagnosis and 13% had current hearing disabilities. Audiometric examination revealed that any hearing loss (mild to severe) was found in 23 (30%) of the IBD population, compared with 3 (10%) of the control group ( P < .05). Sensorineural was the hearing deficiency type in 93% of them. Out of 46 patients, whose extraintestinal manifestation (EIM) status was clearly documented, 43% (n = 20) had EIMs. Hearing loss was present in 5 out of 20 (25%) of these patients, compared with 0 out of 23 who did not have EIMs ( P < .01). IBD phenotype, current hospitalization, and disease type were not different between these groups. Conclusions: Sensorineural hearing loss may be another EIM of IBD. It is found in 30% of IBD patients, and in up to 43% of patients with other EIMs. Early hearing evaluation should be recommended to IBD patients who have other EIMs.