Universal neonatal hearing screening before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

To verify the frequency of risk factors for hearing loss in newborns and their possible associations with universal neonatal hearing screening results before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Historical cohort study with data analysis of newborns attended in a reference hearing health service of the Unified Health System (SUS) between January 2017 and December 2021. Those born in 2020 and 2021 were 91% less likely to fail the screening than those born in 2017, 2018, and 2019; therefore, they had a lower percentage of referrals for a retest. There was a decrease in congenital syphilis (1.00%), decrease in HIV (0.95%), and an increase in toxoplasmosis (0.58%) and increase in rubella cases in 2021 in relation to 2017. Syphilis had lower frequency rates during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021). Newborns born in the pandemic year compared to those born pre-pandemic showed a reduction in the presence of two risk indicators for hearing loss and, consequently, a lower chance of failing the UNHS and a lower percentage of referral for retest.