Hearing, cognitive and vestibular changes in post-COVID syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the clinical and epidemiological aspects related to hearing, cognition and balance in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. Methods: Cross-sectional analytical research with 51 individuals, between 18 and 80 years old, clinically and laboratory diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last two years. Audiological exams, cognitive tests (MOCA and MOCA-B) and vestibular exams were performed. Results: The sample consisted of 51 individuals, predominantly female. The most frequent clinical manifestations were: tinnitus (60.8%), hypoacusis (56.9%), changes in short-term memory (80.4%), working memory (68.6%) and vertigo (60 .8%). Furthermore, 58.1% of patients had audiometrically documented hearing loss, which was sensorineural (88.9%) and mild (61.1%) and bilateral (88.9%). When evaluating the function of the semicircular canals using the Video-Head Impulse Test, 66.66% of the results were normal, while 33.3% showed changes, with hypofunction of the right posterior semicircular canal being the most frequently found (33.33%).  In cognitive tests, deficits in language, abstraction, executive function and fluency were observed. Conclusion: It is concluded that the main auditory, cognitive and vestibular changes found in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome in the Metropolitan region of Belém were sensorineural hearing loss, mild cognitive impairment and hypofunction of the right posterior canal, respectively.