Abstract
Adults living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have a high prevalence of co-existing comorbidities. While research indicates that adults living with HIV are at risk of developing hearing impairment, limited research exists on the interaction between hearing function and comorbidities in this population. The objective of this study was to determine and compare the hearing function of a group of adults living with HIV and comorbidities and those without comorbidities. A sample of 132 adults living with HIV underwent a basic audiological test battery to assess their hearing function. Participants with comorbidities were 1.23 times more likely to develop hearing loss, with crude odds of 1.236 (95%CI 0.5467 to 2.795), while those with three comorbidities were 2.52 times more likely to develop hearing loss. Participants with hypertension were 93% more likely to develop hearing loss when compared to nonhypertensive participants (OR = 1.928; 95%CI: 0.7856 to 4.7345). There was only a marginal association between hypercholesterolemia and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), with no association between other comorbidities and the type of hearing loss. The current findings raise a need for prioritizing patients with comorbidities in audiological assessment and monitoring in resource-constrained contexts, where capacity versus demand challenges might prevent the provision of audiological services to all adults living with HIV. These findings also highlight the importance of preventive care in this population with regard to the burden of the disease, as it may lead to worse ear and hearing outcomes for affected individuals.
Highlights
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a major public health concern, affecting approximately 40 million people globally [1]
While hearing loss is generally common in adults living with HIV, the current findings indicate that the occurrence of hearing loss is much higher in participants with comorbidities than those without comorbidities
The current findings indicate that the prevalence of hearing loss in adults living with
Summary
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a major public health concern, affecting approximately 40 million people globally [1]. While the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has resulted in a significant improvement of the immune system in those infected—reducing mortality, improving life expectancy, and improving their quality of life—individuals living with HIV continue to experience various health problems. Sensory pathologies such as hearing loss are among the persistent health-related problems found in adults living with HIV in all stages of the disease, regardless of treatment status [5,6,7,8]. There remains a paucity of evidence on the interaction between hearing function and comorbidities in
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International journal of environmental research and public health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
