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[Vascular risk factors of sudden deafness and its incidence in the normal population. A retrospective study]
1HNO-Klinik, Universitätskrankenhaus Hamburg-Eppendorf.
Insights
Sudden hearing loss is linked to fewer vascular risk factors than previously thought. Only hyperuricaemia and hyperglycaemia were more common, with more risk factors worsening outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Internal Medicine
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Sudden hearing loss (SHL) is a complex condition with multifactorial causes.
- Vascular risk factors are often implicated in SHL, but their precise prevalence requires further investigation.
- Understanding the association between vascular risk factors and SHL prognosis is crucial for patient management.
Purpose:
- To determine the frequency of specific vascular risk factors in patients diagnosed with sudden hearing loss.
- To investigate the correlation between the number of vascular risk factors and hearing improvement in SHL patients.
- To identify prognostic factors influencing hearing recovery in sudden hearing loss.
Summary:
- Analysis of 264 sudden hearing loss cases revealed that only hyperuricaemia and hyperglycaemia were significantly more prevalent compared to the general population.
- A negative correlation was observed between the degree of hearing improvement and the number of identified vascular risk factors.
- Increased vascular risk factors were proportionally associated with older patient age. Patient age and delayed treatment emerged as the primary unfavorable prognostic indicators for hearing recovery.
Impact:
- This study refines our understanding of the etiological factors contributing to sudden hearing loss.
- Findings suggest that targeted interventions for hyperuricaemia and hyperglycaemia may be beneficial in managing SHL.
- Identifies age and treatment delay as key factors to consider in predicting hearing outcomes, guiding clinical decision-making and patient counseling.
Abstract:
We report the frequency of the vascular risk factors (overweight, hypertension, hypercholesterinaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, hyperuricaemia, hyperglycaemia and smoking) in patients with sudden hearing loss. Analysis of 264 cases shows that only hyperuricaemia and hyperglycaemia are found more often in patients suffering from sudden deafness than in the normal population. There was a negative correlation between hearing improvement and the number of risk factors. Also the number of risk factors increased proportionally to the age of the patients. The patient's age and late treatment were the only unfavourable prognostic factors for hearing improvement.