Association of rheumatoid arthritis with hearing loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease affecting up to 1% of the worldwide population. RA is associated with multiple extra-articular manifestations (EAMs). Middle ear, cochlea and the auditory nerve are suspected sites of RA activity and hearing loss is a possible novel EAM of RA. Objective was to investigate the association of RA with the different subtypes of hearing loss. This systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. A random effects model meta-analysis was conducted and the I2 was used to assess heterogeneity. Twelve studies comprising 20,022 RA patients and 79,244 controls were included in this systematic review. All studies were observational and were rated to a moderate rate of bias. RA patients had nearly fourfold increased odds of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) compared with controls (OR 3.42; 95% CI 2.50–4.69; I2 = 13). RA patients also had a significantly increased risk of SNHL (RR 2.28; 95% CI 1.88–2.76; I2 = 0). RA patients did not have increased odds of conductive hearing loss (CHL) and mixed hearing loss (MHL) (OR 1.36; 95% CI 0.52–3.55; I2 = 22); (OR 2.73; 95% CI 0.78–9.58; I2 = 0%). RA is significantly associated with SNHL. RA is not associated with CHL and MHL. Early screening of RA patients with pure tone audiometry should be considered.