Shedding Light on SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, COVID-19 Vaccination, and Auditory Symptoms: Causality or Spurious Conjunction?

Autor:	Saunders GH; Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom., Beukes E; Vision and Hearing Sciences Research Centre, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom., Uus K; Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom., Armitage CJ; Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom.; Manchester University National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom., Kelly J; Centre for Biostatistics, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom., Munro KJ; Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.; Manchester University National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Frontiers in public health [Front Public Health] 2022 Feb 22; Vol. 10, pp. 837513. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Feb 22 (Print Publication: 2022).
DOI:	10.3389/fpubh.2022.837513
Abstrakt:	There are reports of associations between SARS-CoV2, COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccines, and auditory symptoms (hearing difficulty, tinnitus). However, most studies have relied on self-report and lack baseline and/or non-COVID control groups. This makes it problematic to differentiate if symptoms are associated with SARS-CoV2, COVID-19, the vaccine, psychosocial factors or recall bias. In this study, we differentiate these by comparing hearing and tinnitus survey data collected pre- and during the pandemic. The survey conducted during the pandemic asked about the onset and change in three types of symptom. Type One-known association (loss of smell, memory/concentration issues, persistent fatigue), Type Two-indeterminate association (auditory symptoms), and Type Three-no established association with COVID-19 (toothache). We hypothesized that if auditory symptoms are directly associated with COVID-19, their onset and change would be similar to Type One symptoms, but if indirectly associated (reflecting psychosocial factors and/or recall bias) would be more similar to Type Three symptoms. Of the 6,881 individuals who responded, 6% reported confirmed COVID-19 (positive test), 11% probably had COVID-19, and 83% reported no COVID-19. Those with confirmed or probable COVID-19 more commonly reported new and/or worsened auditory symptoms than those not reporting COVID-19. However, this does not imply causality because: (1) new auditory symptoms coincided with COVID-19 illness among just 1/3 of those with confirmed or probable COVID-19, and another 1/3 said their symptoms started before the pandemic-despite reporting no symptoms in the pre-pandemic survey. (2) >60% of individuals who had COVID-19 said it had affected their Type 3 symptoms, despite a lack of evidence linking the two. (3) Those with confirmed COVID-19 reported more Type 1 symptoms, but reporting of Type 2 and Type 3 symptoms did not differ between those with confirmed COVID-19 and those without COVID-19, while those who probably had COVID-19 most commonly reported these symptom types. Despite more reports of auditory symptoms in confirmed or probable COVID-19, there is inconsistent reporting, recall bias, and possible nocebo effects. Studies that include appropriate control groups and use audiometric measures in addition to self-report to investigate change in auditory symptoms relative to pre-COVID-19 are urgently needed. Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. (Copyright © 2022 Saunders, Beukes, Uus, Armitage, Kelly and Munro.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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