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Updated: Aug 14, 2025

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Case-Control Study
Christopher P Lenkeit, Daniel H Lofgren, John Zappia1
1Michigan Ear Institute, Farmington Hills.
Insights
This study found no significant link between common cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, and high BMI, and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Further research is needed to identify other causes of SSNHL.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Cardiology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) are increasingly recognized as potential contributors to various health conditions.
- Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a complex condition with multifactorial causes.
- The relationship between CVRFs and SSNHL requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between hypertension, hyperlipidemia/dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and body mass index (BMI) and the incidence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case-control study was conducted.
- 223 patients with SSNHL were compared to an age- and gender-matched control group.
- Prevalence of CVRFs including hypertension, hyperlipidemia/dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and BMI was assessed in both groups.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences were observed in the prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia/dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, or BMI between patients with SSNHL and the control group.
- The study found no significant correlation between the investigated CVRFs and SSNHL.
Conclusions:
- This study did not find a significant association between common cardiovascular risk factors and sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
- The findings suggest that other unidentified factors may play a role in the development of SSNHL.
- Further research is warranted to explore alternative etiological factors for SSNHL.
Objective:
To investigate the role of cardiovascular risk factors (specifically hypertension [HTN], hyperlipidemia/dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus I and II, and body mass index (BMI) on the development of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).
Study Design:
Case-control retrospective chart review.
Setting:
A tertiary referral center.
Patients:
Patients aged 18 to 85 years who presented to the clinic over a 1-year span (September 17, 2020 to September 17, 2021) for evaluation of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
Main Outcome Measure:
Comparing the prevalence of the different cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss compared with when compared with non-SSNHL patients at a neurotology clinic.
Results:
Two hundred twenty-three patients with SSNHL were compared with age- and gender-matched comparison group to investigate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors within each group. There are no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) in the prevalence of HTN, hyperlipidemia/dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus I and II, and BMI in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss when compared with non-SSNHL patients at a neurotology clinic.
Conclusions:
Despite correlation between CVRF and SSNHL found in some other studies, we did not find a significant correlation between CVRF (diabetes, HTN, dyslipidemia, and high BMI) and SSNHL in our retrospective case control study of patients presenting to a nonacademic tertiary neurotology clinic. Although there may be other factors contributing to the pathogenesis of SSNHL, we have not yet identified these factors.
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