Sudden sensorineural hearing loss in adults

The association between metabolic syndrome and the prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

INTRODUCTION

In this study, we investigated the association between metabolic syndrome and the prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

METHODS

In this prospective cohort study, 79 patients with idiopathic SSNHL admitted to the ENT ward were involved. Patients were under treatment with two-dose pulse methylprednisolone and then oral corticosteroid (Prednisolone 1 mg/kg for up to 2 weeks and more). In all patients, the mean hearing threshold was measured before treatment and 3 weeks after the treatment. Metabolic syndrome criteria were assessed in all patients too. Then, based on these diagnostic criteria all data in patients with and without metabolic were compared.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in Hypertension, BMI > 25, high TG and low HDL (p.v = 0.001) between two groups (metabolic syndrome group and non-metabolic syndrome group). The rate of recovered patients was significantly lower in the metabolic syndrome group than in the non-metabolic syndrome group (p.v = 0.001). It was found that metabolic syndrome (OR = 2.02), diabetes mellitus (OR = 7.32), HTN (OR = 4.09), BMI > 25 (OR = 3.24) and high initial hearing threshold (OR = 3.96) were clearly related to the poor prognosis of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the findings of this study, it was found that metabolic syndrome had a negative effect on hearing improvement in patients with idiopathic SSNHL.

Effectiveness of electroacupuncture for the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A retrospective study

This retrospective study investigated the use of electroacupuncture (EA) for the treatment of patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).Between May 2016 and April 2020, 140 patients with SSNHL were retrospectively analyzed. They were allocated to a treatment group (n = 70, received EA) and a control group (n = 70, received acupuncture). They received EA or acupuncture for a total of 3 months. The outcomes included average hearing threshold (AHT), tinnitus (as assessed by tinnitus handicap inventory [THI]), dizziness (as measured by dizziness handicap inventory [DHI]), and adverse events (AEs).After treatment, patients in both groups exerted more reduction in HT (P < .01), THI (P < .01), and DHI (P < .01), than those before the treatment. Furthermore, patients in the treatment group showed more relief in HT (P < .01), THI (P < .01), and DHI (P < .01), than those of patients in the control group. When it comes to AEs, both modalities had similar safety profile.The findings of this retrospective study indicated that the effectiveness of EA is superior to acupuncture in treating SSNHL. Future high quality studies are needed to warrant the present findings.