Prevalence and Types of Otological Symptoms Presenting in COVID-19 Patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A Questionnaire-Based Study

Background The clinical manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause sensory dysfunction of taste, smell, and hearing. Otological symptoms may exceed hearing loss to ear pressure, tinnitus, and hyperacusis. Objective The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence and types of otological symptoms among patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted among COVID-19 patients who have been diagnosed at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital (DSFH), Jeddah KSA, aged 18 years or older. The data collection was done through phone-call interviews utilizing an online form of a pre-structured questionnaire. The form included six otological symptoms; each symptom was further detailed with regard to duration, intensity, clinical course (continuous vs intermittent), and recovery. Results A total of 406 responses from patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were analyzed. Females represented 53.7% of the sample. The highest proportion of patients (30%) was in the age group of 31-40, followed by 22.9% in the age group of 25-30. The otological symptoms' prevalence rates were as follows: dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance 34.5%, ear pain 13.1%, tinnitus 12.1%, ear pressure 10%, hearing loss 6.4%, and hyperacusis 5.4%. Males had a higher prevalence of tinnitus, while females had higher reported symptoms of ear pain, hearing loss, and hyperacusis. Conclusion The most common otological symptoms were dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance among one-third of COVID-19 patients. Females reported higher rates of symptoms with ear pressure having significantly higher odds among females. Age groups were also significantly associated with ear pain, tinnitus, and ear pressure.