Conductive and sensorineural hearing impairment in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Pooled result · Type As tympanogramsResult — go to the resultRelative risk 13.93 95% CI 5.83–33.27Authors' conclusion
JIA is associated with a quantifiable dual-compartment audiological burden-a markedly elevated risk of mechanical middle-ear stiffness and a frequency-dependent sensorineural deficit most pronounced beyond the conventional audiometric range. Tympanometry and extended high-frequency audiometry may provide complementary information for detecting subclinical auditory involvement in JIA. The potential role of OAEs, including DPOAE, requires confirmation in larger prospective studies.
Study context
- Population
- Patients diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who underwent audiological examinations (cochlear and middle ear function), compared with healthy controlsSeven studies (237 patients with JIA, 132 healthy controls)
- Participants
- 237 vs 132
- Comparison
- Patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) compared with healthy controls
- JIAn = 237
- Healthy controlsn = 132reference
- Outcome
- Type As tympanograms
Methodological detailsrandom-effects models
- Random-effects models
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Relative risk
13.93
95% CI 5.83–33.27
JIAvs Healthy controls
RR 13.93 (95% CI 5.83–33.27)
Further pooled results
| Outcome | SMD (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pure-tone hearing thresholds at the extended high frequency of 16 kHz | 1.52 (1.04–1.99) | |
| −1012Difference (linear scale) |
| Outcome | SMD (95% CI) |
|---|---|
| Otoacoustic emission amplitudes | −1.72 (- 8.77 to 5.33) |
- Otoacoustic emission amplitudes — I²
- 96%
- Pure-tone hearing thresholds at the extended high frequency of 16 kHz: elevated thresholds in JIA; largest effect observed at 16 kHz
- Otoacoustic emission amplitudes: trended lower in JIA but did not reach statistical significance
Otoacoustic emission amplitudes
- The single study reporting DPOAE suggested a marked reduction
Methodological quality of included studies
- Judged high methodological quality (Newcastle-Ottawa score ≥ 8)
- six
Original publication
Conductive and sensorineural hearing impairment in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 28 October 2026. doi:10.
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