Association between Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and the Risk of Cardio Cerebrovascular Disease

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study investigated the association between sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and the risk of cardio‐cerebrovascular disease (CCVD) among older adults in South Korea.MethodsData from 38,426 patients in the Korean National Health Insurance Service‐Senior Cohort from 2002 to 2019 were collected. The risk of CCVD includes both stroke and acute myocardial infarction. Propensity score matching (1:1) was used to identify pairs of individuals with and without SSNHL (n = 19,213 for cases and controls). Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze the associations between variables.ResultsPatients with SSNHL had a higher risk of CCVD (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11–1.24) compared to those without. The risk of CCVD was higher among those who experienced a stroke than those who did not (HR = 1.17 95% CI = 1.10–1.25). Compared to their matched controls, patients with SSNHL were 1.69 times (HR = 1.69 CI = 1.46–1.94) more likely to have CCVD during the first 12 months of the follow‐up period.ConclusionOlder patients with SSNHL are at an increased risk of CCVD. Hence, a more attentive approach featuring aggressive monitoring of patients with SSNHL is required to lessen their risk of CCVD.Level of EvidenceLevel 3 Laryngoscope, 2023