Comparative Study of Audiovestibular Symptoms between Early and Late Variants of COVID-19

Exacerbation of Preexisting Otologic Conditions After COVID-19 Infection

BACKGROUND

Since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been an increasing number of reports of incidence of otologic conditions after infection. We aim to investigate whether a history of otologic conditions was associated with elevated risk of similar or exacerbated symptoms after COVID-19 infection.

METHODS

Surveys were administered to patients 18 years or older who had tested positive via PCR testing for COVID-19 infection between January 2020 and September 2022. Incidence of otologic symptoms within the 10-day period after COVID-19 infection was compared between participants with a preexisting otologic condition and control participants.

RESULTS

Of 1,499 patients who tested positive for COVID-19, 63.2% were female, 87.5% were White, and the mean age was 58 years. Of these, 721 (48%) reported a preexisting otologic condition, with loss of hearing (25.5%) and history of dizziness (18.8%) being most highly represented among this subcohort. Of patients with a preexisting condition, 35.5% subjectively reported that they believed COVID-19 infection had worsened otologic symptoms of their condition. Univariable analysis revealed that individuals were more likely to report dizziness post-COVID-19 infection if they had a preexisting history of dizziness (29.1% versus 17.8%, p < 0.001) or preexisting history of vestibular neuritis (58.8% versus 19.5%, p < 0.001) than those who did not. Similarly, individuals with a history of vestibular migraine were more likely to report migraine symptoms after infection than those who did not (27.9% versus 7.2%, p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed that preexisting history of dizziness, vestibular neuritis, vestibular migraine, and autoimmune conditions increased the odds of several otologic symptoms, although an exception was observed with decreased odds for changes in hearing in patients with preexisting history of dizziness. Younger age and female gender were associated with higher odds for various otologic symptoms after COVID-19 infection.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that certain preexisting otologic conditions may be associated with a greater likelihood of exacerbation after COVID-19 infection and may help guide screening protocols for those at greatest risk.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

IRB

UCSD IRB #801971.

Increased Incidence of Vestibular Disorders in Patients With SARS-CoV-2

Objective

Determine the incidence of vestibular disorders in patients with SARS-CoV-2 compared to the control population.

Study Design

Retrospective.

Setting

Clinical data in the National COVID Cohort Collaborative database (N3C).

Methods

Deidentified patient data from the National COVID Cohort Collaborative database (N3C) were queried based on variant peak prevalence (untyped, alpha, delta, omicron 21K, and omicron 23A) from covariants.org to retrospectively analyze the incidence of vestibular disorders in patients with SARS-CoV-2 compared to control population, consisting of patients without documented evidence of COVID infection during the same period.

Results

Patients testing positive for COVID-19 were significantly more likely to have a vestibular disorder compared to the control population. Compared to control patients, the odds ratio of vestibular disorders was significantly elevated in patients with untyped (odds ratio [OR], 2.39; confidence intervals [CI], 2.29-2.50; P < 0.001), alpha (OR, 3.63; CI, 3.48-3.78; P < 0.001), delta (OR, 3.03; CI, 2.94-3.12; P < 0.001), omicron 21K variant (OR, 2.97; CI, 2.90-3.04; P < 0.001), and omicron 23A variant (OR, 8.80; CI, 8.35-9.27; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The incidence of vestibular disorders differed between COVID-19 variants and was significantly elevated in COVID-19-positive patients compared to the control population. These findings have implications for patient counseling and further research is needed to discern the long-term effects of these findings.

Acute labyrinthitis: a manifestation of COVID-19 in a teenager

Audiovestibular symptoms following COVID-19 have been long acknowledged, especially in adults. However, acute labyrinthitis presenting as an early manifestation of COVID-19 has not been reported in children. We report COVID-19-induced acute labyrinthitis in a teenager. We report on a boy in his early adolescence with a sudden onset of spinning sensation, imbalance and unilateral hearing loss with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Vestibular investigations point towards right labyrinthine hypofunction, and an audiometry test revealed right-sided severe hearing loss. Symptoms improved gradually with steroids and vestibular rehabilitation therapy. However, the long-term repercussions of post-COVID-19 acute labyrinthitis are unknown and must be followed up closely. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of acute labyrinthitis secondary to COVID-19 in paediatrics. Additionally, we conducted a literature search to elucidate the outcome of COVID-19-induced acute vestibular syndrome in children.

Presence of SARS-CoV-2 in middle ear fluid and characterization of otitis media with effusion in patients with COVID-19

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to determine whether SARS-CoV-2 is present in the middle ear fluid (MEF) of patients with COVID-19 who have otitis media with effusion (OME).

METHODS

A case-control study was designed to detect SARS-CoV-2 and six other common respiratory viruses (influenza A virus, influenza B virus, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, human rhinovirus [HRV], and mycoplasma pneumonia) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the MEF of patients with OME. Follow-up tests, including pure-tone audiometry and tympanometry, were conducted.

RESULTS

In the COVID-19 group, 18 of 27 MEF specimens were PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2, with cycle thresholds ranging from 24.9-42.2. And one patient tested positive for the HRV. In the control group, all 15 MEF specimens were PCR-negative for SARS-CoV-2, but two patients tested positive for the HRV. After treatment for OME, 11 patients (40.7%) reported complete resolution, 14 (51.9%) reported improvement, and two (7.4%) reported no change. The average improvement in hearing was 14.5 ± 8.1 dB, and the average air-bone gap decrease was 13.5 ± 9.0 dB.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the MEF of patients who were previously COVID-19-positive suggesting a possible association between COVID-19 and OME. OME should be considered a possible symptom of COVID-19.

An online survey on clinical characteristics of otologic symptoms linked to COVID-19 infection

Objective

To report the otologic symptoms that present in patients with COVID-19 infection and investigate the pathogenic characteristics during the period of the pandemic.

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional descriptive study included participants with COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 infection was verified in these patients by nucleic acid test or antigen test. An online questionnaire was developed to analyze the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and the characteristics of otologic symptoms.

Results

This study included 2,247 participants, of which nearly half had one or more otologic symptoms. The presents of otologic symptoms were associated with gender (OR = 1.575, p < 0.0001), age (OR = 0.972, p < 0.0001), and occupation (healthcare worker: p < 0.0001; personnel of enterprises or institutions: OR = 1.792, p < 0.0001; student: OR = 0.712, p < 0.044). The otologic symptoms following COVID-19 infection in order were vertigo (25.95%), tinnitus (19.05%), otalgia (19.00%), aural fullness (17.18%), hearing loss (11.62%), otorrhea (1.25%), and facial paralysis (0.27%).

Conclusion

The present study shows that otologic symptoms are common among the COVID-19 infected participants and that these symptoms mostly recover spontaneously. During the corona-virus pandemic, the involvement of the cochleovestibular system and facial nerve should not be overlooked while treating the COVID-19 infected individuals.

Endocannabinoid system components as potential neuroimmune therapeutic targets in tinnitus

Research interest in understanding tinnitus has increased severalfold in the last decade to find a cure for this auditory disorder. Hyperacusis can also accompany tinnitus, although the mechanisms involved in hyperacusis and tinnitus are different. Millions of people suffer from some degree of tinnitus with hearing loss. Tinnitus is believed to be a form of sensory epilepsy, spawning neuronal hyperactivity from the cochlear nucleus and inferior colliculus of the auditory brainstem region. Cannabis has been used for recreation, medicinal purposes, and served as an entheogen from time immemorial. With the current and increasing global medical and recreational cannabis legalization, there is renewed enthusiasm for the use of cannabinoid drugs, and the role of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in several health disorders including tinnitus which is associated with COVID-19. The ECS signaling pathways have been proposed to affect the underlying pathophysiology of tinnitus. Cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) have been found in the auditory system, raising interest in ECS signaling in hearing and tinnitus. However, previous studies mostly in animal models of tinnitus did not investigate the involvement of CB2Rs but focused on CB1R-based responses, which suggested that CB1R ligands had no effect and may even be harmful and worsen tinnitus. With new molecular techniques and transgenic approaches used to dissect the complexity of the ECS, the role of ECS/CB2R neuroimmunological function in the auditory system and tinnitus is emerging. This perspective proposes the role of emerging neuroimmune crosstalk of the ECS in sound-sensing structures of the auditory system as a potential pharmacogenomic therapeutic target using cannabinoid CB2R ligands in tinnitus in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic.