A 6-year epidemiological study on prevalence and risk factors for hearing loss in a high-risk newborn population

Introduction:

In spite of universal screening programs, hearing loss continues to be a serious complication in high-risk babies. Several risk factors need statistical evidence from population-based studies to justify their role in hearing impairment in newborns.

Methods:

This is a retrospective cohort study and includes neonates screened under the universal newborn hearing screening program in the region of North-Rhine over a period of 6 years from January 2009 until December 2014, that were hospitalized in a tertiary children's hospital.

Results:

Over the 6-year period 4,512 newborns were screened. The prevalence of hearing loss was 1.6% (n = 71). Among them 54.9% (n = 39) had conductive hearing loss, 21.1% (n = 15) had sensorineural and 26.8% (n = 19) had combined hearing loss. We assessed the hearing loss against 23 risk factors. An initial univariate analysis was followed by a multivariate regression analysis. The final model showed that craniofacial anomalies (p = 0.00), hyperbilirubinemia needing phototherapy (p = 0.006), or exchange transfusion (p = 0.014), oxygen supplementation (p = 0.012) and hydrops fetalis (p = 0.014) were found to have statistically significant association with hearing loss.

Conclusion:

The hearing loss prevalence was higher than in the general population. Our findings that craniofacial anomalies, hyperbilirubinemia, and oxygen supplementation have significant associations with hearing loss, is consistent with previous studies. Other commonly demonstrated risk factors such as ototoxic drugs, mechanical ventilation, sepsis, and meningitis did not have a significant association with hearing loss. This shows the necessity for a continued reassessment of risk factors based on the population and the treatment modalities used.

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)