Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease affecting every aspects of human system including the sense organs. Sadly, the prevalence is increasing in Nigeria and currently 5.5%. Hearing impairment (deafness) is public health disease and diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common risk factor.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and severity of deafness among Nigerians with DM attending FMC Lokoja.

Methods: A cross-sectional study where sixty-seven consented persons living with diabetes mellitusparticipated. Demographic data, fasting blood glucose (FBG), history of smoking and alcohol intake, and duration of DM were taken. Deafness was determined by pure tone audiometry. Normal hearing was ≤25 decibel [dB], while deafness was values >25 dB. Mild deafness >25 to 70 dB, moderate, >70 to 90 dB while profound >90 dB. Normal FBG 3.5–6.0 mmol/L, fair control 6.1–6.9 mmol/L and poor ≥7.0 mmol/L.

Results: The sixty-seven participants were 20 men and 47 women. No one smoked cigarette nor drank alcohol. Mean (±SD) FBG was 6.7±2.3 mmol/L in men and 7.4±2.6 mmol/L in women. Participant’s blood glucose control was good, fair and poor in 38.8%, 17.9% and 43.3% respectively. The prevalence of deafness was 65.7% on the right ear and 55.2% onthe left. Mild, moderate, severe and profound deafness on the right ear was respectively 32.8%, 28.4%, 3.0% and 1.5% while on the left mild, moderate, severe and profound deafness was respectively 23.9%, 25.4%, 4.5% and 1.5%. The mean (±SD) duration of diabetes in severe deafness on the rightwas 13.0±4.24 and 12.67±3.51 on the left. The duration (years) of DM in diabetic with deafness was statistically significant when compared with fasting BG (P=0.001), deafness on the right (P=0.022) and deafness on the left (P=0.002) [correlation is significant at 0.05 level]

Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus predisposes to deafness and is worsened by the duration of DM, degree of blood glucose control and commoner in right ear.