Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is a multifactorial condition that has the potential to affect inner ear function, thereby leading to sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. As the population ages, there is an increasing prevalence of sudden auditory impairment and auditory disorders. Therefore, it is essential to investigate this connection. are OBJECTIVE: To estimate the association between sudden acoustic hearing loss (SAH) and tinnitus/hearing loss, and to evaluate the methodological quality of related research using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) criteria. METHODS: We employed an analytical cross-sectional design, with a review of observational studies published until April 2025 in English, Portuguese, or Spanish. The evaluation of articles was conducted using the STROBE checklist, and the studies were categorized as adequate , inadequate , or insufficient . RESULTS: The prevalence of hearing impairment presented a significant correlation with hypertension (57.33%), followed by tinnitus (56.3%). Most of the topics were classified as adequate , even though the “Results” sections of the articles presented 12% of inadequacy, and the “Additional Information” sections demonstrated the most insufficiency (80%). Furthermore, the “Discussion” sections revealed a notable concern, with 12.5% of the respondents expressing dissatisfaction. CONCLUSION: A substantial degree of heterogeneity was observed across studies, underscoring the necessity for standardized future research to facilitate more reliable comparisons.