Raised Hematocrit at High Altitude: Its Relation to Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Background: Military troops deployed in high altitude areas (HAAs) may suffer from illnesses peculiar to the terrain which are usually due to hypoxia. The physiological dynamics at high altitude (HA) are different from those in the plains and hence environmental factors play an important role at HA. The effect, if any, of hemodynamic changes in terms of raised hemoglobin (Hb) levels in HA on otological disorders is not very well researched and needs to be explored further. This study was undertaken to study the clinical manifestations, if any, of the hemodynamic alterations in the inner ear and their correlation with the Hb levels after 1 year deployment at HA. Methods: A longitudinal descriptive study was conducted over 1 year duration at a Military Hospital located at HAA on 99 soldiers who were