Association between routine hematological parameters and sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Hematology
• Inflammation Research

Background:

• Chronic inflammation is implicated in sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) development.
• Hematologic parameters may offer prognostic insights into SSNHL, but evidence remains inconclusive.
• Routine hematologic markers require further investigation for their association with SSNHL onset and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the association between routine hematologic parameters and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).
• To evaluate the prognostic value of specific hematologic markers in SSNHL patients.
• To determine if neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) can predict SSNHL onset and prognosis.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase.
• Meta-analysis of standardized mean deviation (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) from 18 eligible studies.
• Analysis of heterogeneity, subgroup effects, and publication bias.

Main Results:

• 18 studies with 1505 SSNHL patients and 1466 controls were analyzed.
• Higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were observed in SSNHL patients compared to healthy individuals.
• Elevated NLR and PLR were significantly associated with poorer treatment response and prognosis in SSNHL patients, while mean platelet volume (MPV) showed no significant difference.

Conclusions:

• Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are valuable predictors for the onset of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).
• NLR and PLR levels can effectively predict the prognosis and treatment outcomes in SSNHL patients.
• Routine hematologic parameters like NLR and PLR offer a potential non-invasive tool for assessing SSNHL risk and recovery.