Degen Chantal Vanessa, Mikuteit Marie, Niewolik Jacqueline, Schröder Dominik, Vahldiek Kai, Mücke Urs, Heinemann Stephanie, Müller Frank, Behrens Georg Martin Norbert, Klawonn Frank, Dopfer-Jablonka Alexandra, Steffens Sandra
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany.
Dean's Office-Curriculum Development, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany.
Front Neurol. 2022 Apr 25;13:884002. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.884002. eCollection 2022.
Tinnitus, vertigo and dizziness are symptoms commonly reported among Long and Post COVID patients, however the severity of these symptoms has not been assessed in large trials. Therefore, in this study a large cohort of Long COVID patients was surveyed about the presence and severity of tinnitus and vertigo or dizziness symptoms. The online survey was completed by a German cohort of 1,082 adult Long COVID patients after a mean period of 43.2 weeks ± 23.4 weeks after infection. Eighty percent were not fully vaccinated (at least two vaccinations) at the time of their first COVID symptoms and 9.8% were hospitalized in the course of their acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. At the time of the survey, 60% of patients reported the presence of vertigo or dizziness with a mean severity of 4.6 ± 2.7 on a scale of 1 (least severe) to 10 (most severe) and 30% complained of tinnitus with a mean severity of 4.8 ± 3.0. Approximately one fifth of the participants with tinnitus and vertigo or dizziness, rated their symptoms to be severe. The data shown in this study confirms that tinnitus and vertigo or dizziness are common symptoms in Long COVID patients and demonstrates, that a compelling number of patients rate their symptoms as severe. The self-reported severity highlights the need for Long COVID clinics to address these symptoms effectively. We suggest a multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic approach to prevent further morbidity and socioeconomic burden for Long COVID patients suffering from severe vertigo, dizziness or tinnitus.
耳鸣、眩晕和头晕是长期新冠患者和新冠康复后患者中常见报告的症状，然而这些症状的严重程度尚未在大型试验中得到评估。因此，在本研究中，对一大群长期新冠患者进行了关于耳鸣、眩晕或头晕症状的存在及严重程度的调查。这项在线调查由1082名德国成年长期新冠患者组成的队列完成，调查时间为感染后平均43.2周±23.4周。80%的患者在首次出现新冠症状时未完全接种疫苗（至少接种两剂），9.8%的患者在急性SARS-CoV-2感染过程中住院。在调查时，60%的患者报告存在眩晕或头晕，平均严重程度在1（最不严重）至10（最严重）的量表上为4.6±2.7，30%的患者抱怨有耳鸣，平均严重程度为4.8±3.0。耳鸣、眩晕或头晕的参与者中约五分之一将他们的症状评为严重。本研究中显示的数据证实，耳鸣、眩晕或头晕是长期新冠患者的常见症状，并表明相当数量的患者将他们的症状评为严重。自我报告的严重程度凸显了长期新冠诊所有效解决这些症状的必要性。我们建议采用多学科诊断和治疗方法，以防止患有严重眩晕、头晕或耳鸣的长期新冠患者出现进一步的发病情况和社会经济负担。
