BRAINSTEM AUDITORY EVOKED POTENTIAL FINDINGS IN SEVERE POST-COVID-19 PATIENTS

Abstract

Introduction: The severe acute respiratory syndrome called covid-19 has a broad clinical spectrum that can range from asymptomatic infections to severe conditions. It is hypothesized that covid-19 can cause neurological symptoms through direct and indirect mechanisms. The high amount of ACE2 in the brain and medulla oblongata can cause an increase in the viral load in the auditory center and a decrease in the concentration of oxygen in red blood cells. In this way, covid-19 can lead to cellular hypoxia and consequently damage the centers responsible for hearing. Objective: to analyze the findings of Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential in severe post-COVID-19 patients. Method: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional, analytical study, which was carried out at the audiology outpatient clinic of the Speech Therapy Department.  The study was carried out after approval by the Human Research Ethics Committee (CAAE: 61448422.7.0000.0217). Individuals who developed Covid-19 in a serious condition and who required medical intervention and follow-up participated in the study. This study is part of an umbrella project, CNPq Universal in which all individuals were submitted to evaluations of other skills related to language, swallowing and cognition. Meatoscopy, pure tone threshold audiometry, immittance testing, and brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) were performed. Results: It was possible to observe according to the hearing thresholds, that most individuals did not present hearing loss. Regarding BAEP, all individuals underwent the test, and the waves were recordable, with the exception of waves I and III for four individuals. For the variable hypertension, the test identified a statistically significant difference between the findings in the interpeak interval I-III in both ears. Conclusion: Most BAEP tracings showed altered morphology, although latencies were preserved. In addition, a significant increase in interpeaks I-III was found in both ears in patients with hypertension.