Iron Deficiency and Hearing Problems in Adult Patients: Sample of Iraqi Patients

Background: Anemia causes insufficient oxygenation of various organs, which leads to impairment of cognitive function as well as behavioral dysfunction, and there is a possibility of iron effects on the inner ear system by inducing pathologic insults. Objectives: The aim of this article is to investigate the association of tinnitus and hearing loss with iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study included patients suffering from tinnitus who were tested by pure tone audiometry and categorized according to hearing status into those with normal hearing and those with hearing loss. A blood sample was taken from each one for performing a complete blood count and serum ferritin level measurements in order to show the presence of iron deficiency and/or iron deficiency anemia. Results: One hundred patients with tinnitus were enrolled, 62 patients of them have hearing loss, while 38 patients have normal hearing. Forty-eight percent of tinnitus patients have iron deficiency anemia and 13% have only iron deficiency. There is a significant association between sensorineural hearing loss and iron deficiency anemia in patients with tinnitus (P value is 0.00283, P value is significant if <0.05). The proportion of subjects with low ferritin and hearing loss is significantly higher than those with low ferritin and normal hearing (P value is 0.000106. The result is significant at P < 0.05). Conclusion: Tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss are significantly associated with iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia.