Background Objective: Hemodialysis is used as a means to eliminate the waste from the body fluids and a substitute for renal function. Although it would greatly help patients with renal failure, its prolonged use would cause several side effects. Hearing loss, common finding in patients with chronic renal failure, is suspected to be a side effect of hemodialysis.
In the present study we evaluated the effect of regular hemodialysis on the hearing status of patients.
Methods: Pure Tone Audiometry was performed in 100 patients undergoing hemodialysis for several years. Patients fall into the following 3 groups regarding the time they have been under this treatment:
1. Duration less than 12 months
2. Durations between 13 and 24 months
3. Durations greater than 24 months
Previous history of Chronic Otitis, Trauma of the ear and Alport disease were used as the exclusion criteria.
Following parameters of blood biochemistry analysis were also evaluated in patients: Calcium, Phosphours Urea, Creatinin, Para thormone, Hemoglobulin and Hematocrit.
Results: One hundred patients with the mean age of 45.2±17 were enrolled in our study. Sixty percent of patients were male and 40% female.
The average time they were under hemodialysis was 23.5±21.2. In all cases hearing loss was sensoryneural. Duration of dialysis had no significant relation with the status of hearing (P=0.64). Severity of hearing loss increased with the increment of age (P=0.000).
Sex did not influence the status of hearing (P>0.05).
None of the blood analysis parameters had a significant relation with the status of hearing.
Discussion: In general it appears that regular hemodialysis in durations that approximate that of our study dose not affect the status of hearing. Besides the known relation of age and hearing status that was demonstrated in this study, the status of hearing had no significant relations with other suspected parameters. Increased mean age of patients undergoing hemodialysis and premature development of presbycusia in these patients can be an explanation for the demonstrated relation of age and hearing status.