Sensorineural hearing dysfunction after discharge from critical care in adults: A retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing intensive care are exposed to risk factors for hearing impairment. This study assessed the worse changes in pure tone average (PTA) thresholds after intensive care and identified the factors associated with worse hearing function. METHODS: We conducted a single-centre retrospective study, and included adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Kurashiki Central Hospital between January 2014 and September 2019, who had regular pure tone audiometry performed before and after ICU admission. Correlations between changes in PTA threshold and patient characteristics, were evaluated. The included ears were classified as those with worse hearing (>10 dB increase in the PTA threshold) and those without worse hearing, and the baseline characteristics were compared. RESULTS: During the study period, 125 ears of 71 patients (male:female ratio, 35:36; mean age, 72.5 ± 12.3 years) met the eligibility criteria. Age, sex, and the use of furosemide were not correlated with changes in PTA threshold. Univariate analysis showed that ears with worse hearing were associated with a lower serum platelet count than ears without worse hearing (153 ± 85 × 10(9)/L vs. 206 ± 85 × 10(9)/L, respectively; P = 0.010), and the rate of planned ICU admission (elective surgery) was higher in the worse hearing group (57.1% vs. 28.8%, respectively; p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Age, sex, and the use of furosemide did not have adversely affect hearing function. Low serum platelet count and planned admission appear to be risk factors for worse hearing.