Oxidative stress markers and brainstem auditory evoked potential in premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal females

• Published in: Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association Vol. 75; no. 2; pp. 243 - 248
• Main Authors: Ashraf, Asma, Naeem, Seher, Akram, Madiha, Saeed, Muniza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pakistan Knowledge Bylanes 01.02.2025; Pakistan Medical Association
• Subjects: Adult; Biological markers; Biomarkers - blood; Brainstem auditory evoked potential; Cross-Sectional Studies; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem - physiology; Female; Health aspects; Hearing disorders; Humans; Identification and classification; Menopause; Middle Aged; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Pakistan; Perimenopause - blood; Perimenopause - physiology; Postmenopause - blood; Postmenopause - physiology; Premenopause - blood; Premenopause - physiology; Risk factors; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - analysis; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - metabolism; Pakistan; Menopause, Oxidative stress, Brainstem auditory evoked potential
• ISSN: 0030-9982; 0030-9982
• DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.20077

Objective: To measure biomarkers of oxidative stress and to determine hearing sensitivity by auditory brainstem response in premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Method: The cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted in the departments of Physiology and Audiology at the Post-Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore, and the Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from November 2020 to November 2021, and comprised healthy female subjects grouped into premenopausal group 1, perimenopausal group 2 and postmenopausal group 3 as per their menstrual history. Blood samples were taken for measuring biological indicators of oxidative damage, while auditory integrity was assessed by measuring absolute latencies of waves I, III, V and interpeak latency of waves III and V at an intensity of 80dB by performing brainstem auditory evoked potential. Data was analysed using SPSS 23. Results: Of the 45 subjects, 15(33.3%) with mean age 41.3±1.9 were in group 1, 15(33.3%) with mean age 46.7 ± 3.7 years were in group 2, and 15(33.3%) with mean age 55.8±2.7 years were in group 3. Significantly increased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance were found in group 3 compared to groups 1 and 2 (p<0.05). Regarding auditory brainstem response, a significant increase was observed in absolute latencies of waves I, III, V and interpeak latency between waves III and V in group 3 compared to the other groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Oxidative stress had a debilitating impact on hearing sensitivity related to the menopausal status of women. Key Words: Menopause, Oxidative stress, Brainstem auditory evoked potential.