Association of Metabolic Syndrome With Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Each of the 5 diagnostic criteria or factors of metabolic syndrome-hyperglycemia or type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, elevated triglyceride levels, and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level-is associated with the pathophysiologic features of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Little is known, however, about the association of metabolic syndrome, defined as the presence of at least 3 of these factors, with the prognosis of SSNHL.

To evaluate the association of metabolic syndrome with the rate of recovery from SSNHL.

This retrospective medical record review of 124 patients treated for SSNHL at a single tertiary university hospital was performed from June 1, 2014, through May 31, 2016. Medical records were reviewed for demographic and clinical characteristics and audiologic variables.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Correlation among demographic and clinical characteristics, audiologic results, and prognosis.

Of the total 124 patients (52 men [41.9%]; 72 women [58.1%]; mean [SD] age, 56.0 [14.6] years), 70 had metabolic syndrome and 54 did not. Rates of type 2 diabetes (36 [51.4%] vs 6 [11.1%]; mean difference [MD], 40.3%; 95% CI, 24.4%-53.1%), hypertension (46 [65.7%] vs 9 [16.7%]; MD, 49.1%; 95% CI, 32.3%-61.7%), and obesity (47 [67.1%] vs 6 [11.1%]; MD%, 56.0; 95% CI, 40.0%-67.5%) and mean (SD) concentrations of triglycerides (192.9 [159.7] vs 133.4 [116.6] mg/dL; MD, 59.4 mg/dL; 95% CI, 53.0-65.9 mg/dL) were significantly higher and mean (SD) concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (45.8 [9.4] vs 62.6 [17.7] mg/dL; MD, 16.8 mg/dL; 95% CI, 16.1-17.4 mg/dL) were significantly lower in the group with metabolic syndrome than in the group without metabolic syndrome. Mean (SD) pure-tone audiometry thresholds were similar at baseline in the groups with and without metabolic syndrome (65.0 [24.2] vs 60.8 [24.2] dB; MD, 4.3 dB; 95% CI, 3.2-5.4 dB), but recovery rates after treatment were significantly lower in the group with metabolic syndrome (16 [22.9%] vs 23 [42.6%]; MD, -19.7%; 95% CI, -35.4% to -3.2%). No differences were found in the 5 factors among patients with metabolic syndrome who did and did not recover. Level of hearing loss was higher in patients with than without metabolic syndrome, but the difference was not statistically significant. Audiogram patterns also differed but not significantly. Hearing recovery rates were similar in patients with 3 factors of metabolic syndrome and those with none but differed significantly between patients with 4 or more factors and those without metabolic syndrome (4 [19.0%] vs 27 [50.0%]; MD, -31.0%; 95% CI, -48.1% to -6.4%).

The rate of recovery from SSNHL was lower among patients with metabolic syndrome than among those without metabolic syndrome, and prognosis was poorer in patients with 4 or more diagnostic factors of the metabolic syndrome.