Young adults at higher risk of hearing loss after Covid infection, data suggest

A study conducted by South Korean researchers indicates that young adults, particularly those aged 20 to 39, face an increased risk of hearing loss (HL) and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) following COVID-19 infection. Analyzing data from 6.7 million adults between January 2020 and December 2022, the researchers found that 72% of participants had contracted COVID-19. The incidence of HL was significantly higher in those infected (11.9 per 10,000 person-months) compared to uninfected individuals (3.4 per 10,000 person-months), with a subdistribution hazard ratio of 3.51. Similarly, SSNHL cases were more prevalent in the COVID-19 cohort (1.8 vs. 0.5 per 10,000 person-months). The study highlighted that young adults with diabetes exhibited the highest risk for both HL and SSNHL. The authors emphasized the need for healthcare providers to be vigilant about potential hearing impairments in young COVID-19 patients and to consider appropriate screening and follow-up. They also called for further research using objective audiologic data to explore the biological mechanisms behind these auditory complications. The findings suggest that hearing issues in young adults could significantly affect their quality of life and social functioning, underscoring the importance of public health strategies aimed at preventing COVID-19 infections in this demographic. However, the researchers cautioned that the study's limitations, including a lack of objective audiological data, necessitate careful interpretation of the results.