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Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: evidence from Taiwan
Chuan-Song Wu1, Herng-Ching Lin, Pin-Zhir Chao
1Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei City Hospital, and School of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
Audiology & Neuro-Otology
|February 2, 2006
Summary
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) incidence in Taiwan is higher in males and increases with age. Seasonal analysis revealed a significant peak in autumn, highlighting periods of increased risk.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a common otolaryngologic emergency.
- Understanding SSNHL incidence patterns is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence rate of SSNHL in Taiwan.
- To analyze SSNHL incidence based on age, gender, and seasonal variations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional study utilizing 5-year population data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (1998-2002).
- Identified 9,267 patients diagnosed with unspecified sudden hearing loss (ICD-9-CM 3882).
- Applied autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) to assess monthly incidence variations.
Main Results:
- Overall SSNHL incidence rates per 100,000 were 8.85 for males and 7.79 for females.
- Age-specific incidence of SSNHL increased with age.
- Significant seasonal variations in SSNHL incidence were observed, with the highest rates occurring in autumn.
Conclusions:
- Significant monthly variations in SSNHL incidence were identified.
- Findings provide valuable insights for otolaryngologists and public health officials regarding periods of increased SSNHL risk.