Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2016 May;59(5):353-360. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2016.59.5.353.

Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Is Correlated with an Increased Risk of Stroke: An 11-Year Nationwide Population-Based Study

• Nam JS
• Jeong SW
• Han SJ
• Chang JH
• Choi HS

• KMID: 2164348
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2016.59.5.353

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (S-SNHL) occurs abruptly, developing rapidly within 3 days. The criteria for the diagnosis of S-SNHL are idiopathic hearing loss of at least 30 dB over at least three serial test frequencies. This study estimated whether S-SNHL increases the risk of stroke using Korean National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC 2002-2013) data.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Among NHIS-NSC 2002-2013, we excluded the patients diagnosed as S-SNHL or stroke in 2002. The patients who were diagnosed and treated as S-SNHL (n=2510) and the comparison group (n=12550) extracted using propensity score matching were enrolled. During an 11-year follow-up period until December 2013, the incidence of stroke among two groups was analyzed and the result was adjusted for the impact of comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease with Cox proportional hazard regression.
RESULTS
According to our data, 10.8% of S-SNHL patients (among 2510) and 7.8% of the comparison group (among 12550) had strokes. Stroke incidence was reported higher in patients with history of S-SNHL compared to the comparison group [hazard (HR), 1.15; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.32] followed by patients with hypertension (HR, 2.51; 95% CI, 2.22-2.84), diabetes mellitus (HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.43-1.85). In terms of the type of strokes, S-SNHL increased the risk of ischemic stroke (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.02-1.37).
CONCLUSION
S-SNHL appeared to be associated with an increased risk of developing stroke after adjusting for other risk factors.

Keyword

Brain ischemia; Intracranial hemorrhages; Stroke; Sudden hearing loss

MeSH Terms

Brain Ischemia
Cohort Studies
Comorbidity
Diabetes Mellitus
Diagnosis
Follow-Up Studies
Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural*
Hearing Loss, Sudden
Humans
Hypertension
Incidence
Intracranial Hemorrhages
Methods
National Health Programs
Propensity Score
Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
Risk Factors
Stroke*