A study has found an association between the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL), as well as poorer prognosis for recovery of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in patients with concomitant Metabolic Syndrome.

The systematic review of earlier studies found that three studies examining the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among patients with SSHL, including in total 11,890 participants of which 3,034 participants had a sudden sensorineural hearing loss, showed a significantly increased risk of Metabolic Syndrome among SSNHL patients with a pooled odds ratio of 1.88.

Poorer recovery

The review also found three studies examining the association of SSHL prognosis in patients with Metabolic Syndrome. With a total 608 SSHL participants and 234 participants concomitant SSHL and Metabolic Syndrome, the study demonstrated that sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients with Metabolic Syndrome were significantly more likely to have poorer recovery compared to SSHL patients without Metabolic Syndrome with an odds ratio of 2.77.

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic Syndrome describes a group of risk factors which raise the risk of heart disease and other health problems such as diabetes and stroke.

About the study

The study included observational studies analysing the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among SSNHL patients and the prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) patients in Metabolic Syndrome patients.

The study, “Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”, was published in the journal Otology & Neurotology.

Other earlier studies have found an association between Metabolic Syndrome and hearing loss in general.

Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ and the Journal Otology & Neurotology.