Is atrial fibrillation a risk factor for hearing loss?

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we sought to evaluate the results of hearing loss in AF patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study involved 50 patients with AF, as determined by means of electrocardiogram, and 50 patients without AF. The pure-tone audiometry (PTA) threshold values were measured at low, medium and high frequencies for both ears. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) DPOAEs and TEOAEs were also analyzed for both ears separately. RESULTS: Both the airway and bone conduction PTA thresholds at 3, 4 and 6 kHz (kilohertz) were significantly lower in the AF group than in the control group (p<0.05). The AF patients exhibited worse hearing and worse TEO-AE results at 1, 2, 3 and 4 kHz. In fact, the TEO-AE amplitudes of the AF group were significantly lower in both the right and left ears at 2, 3 and 4 kHz when compared with the control group (p<0.05). Moreover, the DPOAE amplitudes in the AF group were statistically significantly lower at 3.4 kHz in both ears when compared with the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In light of these findings, we believe that AF is a risk factor for hearing.