Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Sleep Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent condition associated with various health issues.
• Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a common form of hearing impairment.
• The relationship between OSA and SNHL requires further investigation.

Approach:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across Ovid Medline, Embase, and Scopus databases.
• Twenty studies involving 34,442 participants were included to assess the association between OSA and SNHL.
• Quality assessment was performed using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies.

Key Points:

• Participants with OSA exhibited significantly poorer hearing threshold levels (HTL) in mid and high frequencies compared to controls.
• An association was found between OSA and both midfrequency (OR 1.52) and high-frequency (OR 1.19) hearing impairment.
• Severe OSA cases showed a more pronounced impact on hearing thresholds.

Conclusions:

• OSA is significantly associated with sensorineural hearing loss, especially in severe cases.
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy did not demonstrate significant improvements in midfrequency hearing thresholds for OSA patients with SNHL.
• Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of OSA on hearing and the efficacy of interventions.