A Clinical Study to Evaluate the Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Metabolic syndrome is considered to be a triggering factor for deterioration of health related quality of life. In present study we assessed hearing loss consequent to metabolic syndrome. A total of 100 patients diagnosed for metabolic syndrome (IDF criteria) were included in the study. All the patients underwent pure tone audiometry and impedance audiometry. All the patients underwent anthropometric measurements, lipid profile, blood sugar and blood pressure assessments. Data was analyzed using SPSS 21.0 software. A total of 62% patients had sensorineural hearing loss. Maximum (35%) had mild hearing loss, followed by moderate hearing loss (23%). Only 4 (4%) cases had severe hearing loss. Older age, wider waist circumference, higher fasting blood glucose levels and lower blood pressure were found to be significantly associated with sensorineural hearing loss and its severity on univariate analysis. However, on multivariate assessment only age and waist circumference showed a significant association with hearing loss.