The role of the healthcare system in the prevention and treatment of hearing impairments in elderly patients during the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Introduction. COVID‑19 can cause hearing impairments, including in elderly individuals. Studies involving patients aged 23 to 75 years infected with SARS-CoV‑2 have reported hearing loss in 65.5% of cases. Hearing loss may present as the sole symptom of COVID‑19 or develop later as a complication associated with post-infectious inflammation of nervous tissue, which is characteristic of long COVID syndrome. Objective: to develop and analyze organizational measures in healthcare aimed at systematizing current data on the impact of COVID‑19 infection on auditory function in geriatric patients. Materials and methods. Content-analysis. Results and discussion. Long COVID manifests more than four weeks after infection or following a temporary improvement in the patient’s condition. COVID‑19 exerts a destructive effect on the inner ear; however, the pathogenesis mechanisms and causes of such damage remain insufficiently studied. The virus can affect the organ of Corti, stria vascularis, and spiral ganglia, and is associated with the development of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss is particularly common among elderly patients, although this issue often goes unnoticed by both patients and physicians. Hearing loss significantly reduces quality of life and may serve as an early sign of serious neurological diseases such as ischemic brain disease. Hearing impairment may also be a side effect of COVID‑19 pharmacotherapy. Conclusions. Elderly patients who have recovered from COVID‑19 are recommended to undergo mandatory hearing diagnostics and receive specialized care. Early screening and subsequent monitoring are crucial when sensorineural hearing loss is suspected or detected. The use of validated questionnaires to assess hearing impairments in this age group should become an integral part of comprehensive geriatric assessment, along with subsequent audiological examination, representing a promising direction in geriatric practice.