Prevalence of cochlear implants in Europe: trend between 2010 and 2016

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Public Health
• Medical Data Analysis

Background:

• Cochlear implantation (CI) is a vital treatment for severe to profound hearing loss.
• Understanding trends in CI utilization across Europe is crucial for public health planning.
• Data collection on CI recipients across European nations presents significant challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the number of pediatric and adult cochlear implant recipients in Europe.
• To compare CI figures between 2010 and 2016 to identify trends.
• To highlight disparities in CI access and data collection across European countries.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed in 2018 by EURO-CIU to its 23 member countries.
• Data on cochlear implant recipients in 2016 and 2017 were collected from 15 participating countries.
• The collected data represented over 100,000 cochlear implant recipients in Europe.

Main Results:

• Pediatric CI numbers increased in most European countries between 2010 and 2016, with approximately one CI per 1000 newborns in countries with reimbursement.
• Adult CI recipient numbers showed no increase between 2010 and 2016.
• Significant heterogeneity in adult CI data and access was observed across different European countries.

Conclusions:

• There is a lack of consensus and consistency in European cochlear implant data, hindering effective public health policy and service planning.
• Increased awareness of adult hearing loss and cochlear implantation is necessary in most European countries to improve patient access.
• Standardized data collection is essential for evaluating and improving cochlear implant services across Europe.