Prevalence of Dizziness, Tinnitus and Headache Among COVID-19 Patients at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat

Background: This cross-sectional study was conducted among adult Omani patients with a confirmed laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 to determine the prevalence of dizziness, tinnitus and headache in the pre-, during and post-COVID-19 recovery phases. Methodology: The characteristics and severity of symptoms of dizziness, tinnitus and headache in the above three phases were determined by telephone interviews. The severity of symptoms was recorded using the visual analog score. Results: The total number of patients selected was n = 102 (M/F 50/50%; overall mean age = 33.52 ± 3.6 years). The pre-COVID-19 prevalence of dizziness was 16%, tinnitus 13% and headache 53%. During COVID, the prevalence of dizziness increased to 41%; for tinnitus, it remained the same; and for headache, it increased to 73%. Compared to the lower age group category (30–32 years); the pre-COVID-19 prevalence of dizziness was significantly higher in the 33–40 years age group. The severity of symptoms showed a significant correlation in different phases, pre- and post-COVID-19, for dizziness (r = 0.556), tinnitus (r = 0.714) and headache (r = 0.696), and tinnitus during and post-COVID-19 (r = 0.570). Conclusion: The prevalence of dizziness, tinnitus and headaches was high in COVID-19 patients. All symptoms pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19 persisted post-COVID-19.