Analysis of characteristics of and risk factors for otological symptoms after COVID-19 infection

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics of and risk factors for otological symptoms after contracting COVID-19. We invited 468 participants who had been infected with COVID-19 to participate in a survey. 310 (66.2%) were women and 158 (33.8%) were men. The mean age is 38.73 (12.21) years. The questionnaire included their basic information, symptoms and symptom duration after SARS-CoV-2 infection, number of vaccine doses received, and details regarding otological symptoms. In total, 106/468 (22.6%) participants experienced tinnitus, 66/468 (14.1%) hearing loss, 103/468 (22.0%) aural fullness, and 71/468 (15.2%) dizziness. Women were more prone to experience tinnitus (P = 0.022) and dizziness (P = 0.001) than men. The group with hearing loss were older (P = 0.025), and their initial COVID-19 symptoms lasted longer (P = 0.028) than those of patients without. Patients with aural fullness were more likely to experience fatigue than patients without (P = 0.002). Patients experiencing dizziness were more likely to experience pharyngalgia (P = 0.040) and fatigue (P = 0.005) than those without. The number of vaccine doses was positively associated with the resolution of otological symptoms (P = 0.035). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that sex was an independent risk factor for tinnitus (odds ratio [OR], 1.802; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.099-2.953; P = 0.020), the duration of initial COVID-19 symptoms for hearing loss (OR, 1.055; 95% CI, 1.008-1.105; P = 0.023), and sex for dizziness (OR, 2.870; 95% CI, 1.489-5.535; P = 0.002). Sex, age, COVID-19-related fatigue, and the duration of initial COVID-19 symptoms may affect the occurrence of otological symptoms, and vaccines may aid their resolution.