Diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A bidirectional and multivariable Mendelian...

Many compelling observational studies suggest a reasonable correlation between diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and susceptibility to sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Nevertheless, some studies have observed results that are entirely opposite to this. We conducted a bidirectional and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to determine whether those associations are causal. Independent genetic variants associated with diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and SSNHL at the genome-wide significance level were selected as instrumental variables. All summary data can be obtained from the genome-wide association study database. The primary method utilized in the MR analysis was the inverse variance weighted method, while sensitivity analyses employed the weighted median method, MR-Egger method, and MR-PRESSO method. The MR analysis conducted using the inverse variance weighted method reveals a potential causal link between type 2 diabetes and the risk of SSNHL (odds ratio = 1.18, 95% confidence interval = 1.02-1.36, P = .03). These findings remain consistent in multivariate MR analysis, even after adjusting for obesity and hyperlipidemia (odds ratio = 1.17, 95% confidence interval = 1.01-1.36, P = .03). However, there is no discernible genetic evidence supporting a direct causal link between type 1 diabetes, obesity, and hyperlipidemia and the occurrence of SSNHL. Our bidirectional and multivariable MR analysis indicates that type 2 diabetes is a potential risk factor for SSNHL. Meanwhile, no direct causal relationship is identified between type 1 diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and the risk of SSNHL.