Patients who have osteoporosis face a 1.76-fold higher risk of developing sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) than those who do not have the bone disease, according to a study published online ahead of print April 16 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
“A growing body of evidence indicates that osteoporosis affects not only bone health, but the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems,” said study author Kai-Jen Tien, MD, from the Chi Mei Medical Center in Taiwan.
Kai-Jen Tien, MD
SSHL, also called sudden deafness, is an unexplained, rapid loss of hearing that typically happens in one ear, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. It can happen at once or over the course of several days. Although about half of the people who develop SSHL will spontaneously regain their hearing, immediate treatment is recommended. About 85% of those who are treated for the condition recover some hearing.
This retrospective cohort study examined medical records for 10,660 Taiwan residents who were diagnosed with osteoporosis between 1999 and 2008, and compared them to 31,980 controls who did not have the condition. Using national insurance records, the researchers analyzed how many participants were diagnosed with sudden deafness by the end of 2011.
The participants who were diagnosed with osteoporosis had a much higher risk of developing SSHL than the control group. Among the participants who had osteoporosis, 91 were diagnosed with SSHL during the follow-up period. In comparison, the control group, which was triple the size, included 155 people who were diagnosed with SSHL.
Dr. Tien and colleagues theorized that cardiovascular risk factors, bone demineralization, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction may contribute to the association between osteoporosis and SSHL.
“More people worldwide are suffering from osteoporosis, and our work shows they are at risk of sensorineural hearing loss, as well as bone fracture and other problems,” Dr. Tien said. “Patients who have osteoporosis should be aware they need to seek medical help immediately if they experience hearing loss.”
Dr. Tien stated, “Our findings suggest sudden sensorineural hearing loss can be another broader health problem connected to osteoporosis.”