Coronary artery bypass grafting patients' preferences and willingness to pay for remote cardiac rehabilitation: discrete choice experiment study.

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) results from damage to the cochlear hair cells or the auditory nerve and is distinct from conductive hearing loss. A variety of factors have been identified as contributors to SNHL, including advancing age, noise exposure, chemical agents, ototoxic medications, trauma, and systemic medical conditions, such as autoimmune diseases and infections []. Statins are a class of drugs commonly used for treating hyperlipidemia and preventing heart attack and stroke []. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, commonly known as statins, are widely prescribed globally for the management of hyperlipidemia to lower blood cholesterol levels and prevent atherosclerotic and ischemic complications [, ]. Auditory adverse effects associated with statin therapy are exceedingly rare, with only isolated case reports documented in the literature. Several statins, including atorvastatin, simvastatin, and rosuvastatin, have been sporadically linked to tinnitus and hearing loss, though a clear causal relationship has not been firmly established for most []. Atorvastatin, in particular, has been the subject of the few published reports of confirmed sensorineural hearing loss. Tinnitus related to medication use may be overlooked or dismissed by patients, potentially allowing progression to permanent hearing impairment if the offending drug is not stopped in a timely manner. The most frequently reported adverse effects of atorvastatin include joint pain, diarrhea, nasopharyngitis, extremity pain, and urinary tract infections []. Documenting reversible cases is critical to raise clinician awareness, facilitate early recognition, and prevent irreversible auditory damage through timely intervention. This case highlights reversible atorvastatin-associated SNHL, emphasizing the importance of early recognition and drug discontinuation to prevent permanent auditory damage. A 45-year-old Ethiopian woman presented to the otolaryngology clinic with bilateral hearing reduction and tinnitus of 3 weeks’ duration. Hearing loss was gradual in onset, symmetric, and progressive. She denied associated vertigo, otalgia, or otorrhea.