Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) arises from damage to the cochlea, auditory nerve, or central auditory pathways. Hypertension may contribute through several mechanisms: increased blood viscosity reducing cochlear perfusion, ischemia-induced oxidative stress damaging hair cells, and impaired vascular repair capacity in the inner ear. Globally, hypertension affects 1.39 billion people, with sub-Saharan Africa prevalence around 16.2%. Meanwhile, 1.5 billion people live with hearing loss, 9% of whom are in Africa. Yet in East Africa, systematic data on hearing status among hypertensive patients have been scarce—leaving an important clinical question largely unanswered.

Between October 2023 and May 2024, researchers enrolled 201 hypertensive adults at KCMC in northern Tanzania. All participants underwent structured interviews, otoscopic examination, and pure-tone audiometry in a soundproof room. Nearly one in four hypertensive patients (23.9%) had SNHL. The burden varied markedly across subgroups: 59.2% of those over 50 years had SNHL, compared to only 12.5% in younger patients; 31.3% of females were affected versus 14.6% of males. The most striking difference related to hypertension duration—64.2% of patients with hypertension for ≥5 years had SNHL, versus just 3.7% with shorter duration. Bilateral involvement was the norm (81.3%), and most cases were mild (70.8%). Multivariate analysis confirmed smoking as the strongest modifiable risk factor (OR = 21.2), followed by prolonged hypertension, female sex, older age, alcohol use, and use of loop diuretics (furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide).

These findings carry practical messages for clinicians and patients alike. Smoking—the strongest risk factor—is modifiable, reinforcing the importance of smoking cessation in hypertensive care. The dose-dependent relationship between hypertension duration and hearing loss suggests that earlier and better blood pressure control may protect hearing over the long term. Ototoxic drugs, while clinically valuable, should be prescribed with caution, with monitoring considered for long-term users. The high prevalence of bilateral involvement (81.3%) means that unilateral hearing complaints warrant careful evaluation beyond hypertension-related causes. As a cross-sectional, single-center study, causality cannot be established, and generalization is limited. The authors call for community-based surveys and prospective cohort studies to clarify the natural history of SNHL in hypertension and identify effective prevention strategies.

Managing hypertension is about more than blood pressure targets. This study reminds us that hearing deserves attention alongside the heart, brain, and kidneys. For hypertensive patients, regular hearing screening, smoking cessation, moderation in alcohol use, and judicious prescribing of ototoxic medications may all be part of comprehensive care. After all, hearing well is essential to living well.

The work titled “Magnitude, Patterns and Factors Associated With Sensorineural Hearing Loss Among Hypertensive Adults at a Tertiary Hospital in Northern Tanzania”, was published on Eye & ENT Research (published on May 27, 2026).

DOI:10.1002/eer3.70040