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Thai-Van H, Bagheri H, Valnet-Rabier MB. Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Review of the Available Evidence through the Prism of Causality Assessment. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:181. [PMID: 38400164 PMCID: PMC10892268 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12020181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), a rare audiological condition that accounts for 1% of all cases of sensorineural hearing loss, can cause permanent hearing damage. Soon after the launch of global COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, the World Health Organization released a signal detection about SSNHL cases following administration of various COVID-19 vaccines. Post-marketing studies have been conducted in different countries using either pharmacovigilance or medico-administrative databases to investigate SSNHL as a potential adverse effect of COVID-19 vaccines. Here, we examine the advantages and limitations of each type of post-marketing study available. While pharmacoepidemiological studies highlight the potential association between drug exposure and the event, pharmacovigilance approaches enable causality assessment. The latter objective can only be achieved if an expert evaluation is provided using internationally validated diagnostic criteria. For a rare adverse event such as SSNHL, case information and quantification of hearing loss are mandatory for assessing seriousness, severity, delay onset, differential diagnoses, corrective treatment, recovery, as well as functional sequelae. Appropriate methodology should be adopted depending on whether the target objective is to assess a global or individual risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung Thai-Van
- Department of Audiology and Otoneurological Evaluation, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69003 Lyon, France;
- Institut Pasteur, Institut de l’Audition, 75015 Paris, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Haleh Bagheri
- Department of Medical and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre Régional de Pharmacovigilance de Toulouse, CIC1436, Hôpital Universitaire de Toulouse, 31000 Toulouse, France;
| | - Marie-Blanche Valnet-Rabier
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Centre Régional de Pharmacovigilance et d’Information sur les Médicaments, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon, 25000 Besançon, France
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Kovács M, Uzsaly J, Bodzai G, Pap I, Lippai B, Dergez T, Németh A, Gerlinger I, Szanyi I, Bakó P. Efficacy of high dose systemic versus combined (systemic and intratympanic) corticosteroid therapy in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A prospective randomized trial and risk factor analysis. Am J Otolaryngol 2024; 45:104099. [PMID: 37948820 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.104099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The pathophysiology and the proper treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) are an ongoing subject of debate. Locally or systemic administered corticosteroids are the most accepted drugs of treatment in reference to ISSNHL (idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss), however, no strong evidence nor guidelines regarding their effectiveness yet exists. In our prospective, randomized, controlled trial 78 participants were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned based on the day of admission to two groups according to treatment: group SS (n = 43) received intravenous systemic methylprednisolone alone, and group CT (n = 35) received intratympanic dexamethasone + systemic methylprednisolone. The primary outcome was to compare the hearing outcomes between the treatment groups based on different, widely accepted categories (Siegel, Kanzaki, modified Siegel and PTA4 gain). In consideration of the secondary outcome, we examined the effect of the various risk factors on the hearing improvement. No differences were detected regarding hearing improvement between the two groups, based on any criteria [Siegel's criteria (p = 0.604); Kanzaki's criteria (p = 0.720); modified Siegel's criteria (p = 0.524) and PTA 4 gain (p = 0.569)]. However, several clinical factors such as vertigo (p = 0.039), or cardiovascular comorbidity (p = 0.02) and the severity of initial hearing loss (p = 0.033) were found to bear a significant impact upon the hearing outcome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled trial comparing high dose systemic and combination corticosteroid therapy in ISSNHL patients. Our findings suggest coexisting cardiovascular comorbidity, vertigo and severity of the initial hearing loss may bear a significantly higher impact upon hearing improvement, than the additional intratympanic steroid administration. The presented trial was registered in the European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database (name: Combinated systemic and intratympanic steroid therapy in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss, No.: 2017-000658-20) and with the ethical approval of The National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition (OGYÉI) (protocol No.: 7621, on 2017.02.16.).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kovács
- University of Pécs, Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Munkácsy M St 2, H-7621 Pécs, Hungary
| | - J Uzsaly
- University of Pécs, Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Munkácsy M St 2, H-7621 Pécs, Hungary
| | - G Bodzai
- University of Pécs, Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Munkácsy M St 2, H-7621 Pécs, Hungary
| | - I Pap
- University of Pécs, Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Munkácsy M St 2, H-7621 Pécs, Hungary
| | - B Lippai
- University of Pécs, Szentagothai Research Centre, Ifjuság Str 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - T Dergez
- University of Pécs, Medical School, Institute of Bioanalysis, Honvéd St 1, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - A Németh
- University of Pécs, Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Munkácsy M St 2, H-7621 Pécs, Hungary
| | - I Gerlinger
- University of Pécs, Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Munkácsy M St 2, H-7621 Pécs, Hungary
| | - I Szanyi
- University of Pécs, Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Munkácsy M St 2, H-7621 Pécs, Hungary.
| | - P Bakó
- University of Pécs, Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Munkácsy M St 2, H-7621 Pécs, Hungary; University of Pécs, Szentagothai Research Centre, Ifjuság Str 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
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Zhou Y, Wen J, Yang Z, Zeng R, Gong W, Jing Q. The potential relationship between uric acid and the recovery in sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 90:101368. [PMID: 38006724 PMCID: PMC10724551 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2023.101368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Serum uric acid is proven to be associated with chronic hearing loss, but its effect on Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) is unclear. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic values of serum uric acid levels in SSNHL patients. METHODS The clinical records of SSNHL patients were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into different groups based on hearing recovery and audiogram type, and uric acid levels were compared. Based on uric acid levels, patients were categorized into normouricemia and hyperuricemia groups, and clinical features and hearing recovery were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors. RESULTS In total, 520 SSNHL patients were included in this study, including 226 females and 294 males. In female patients, 186 patients were included in the normouricemia group, and 40 patients were enrolled in the hyperuricemia group. Significant differences were observed in uric acid levels, Total Cholesterol (TC), rate of complete recovery, and slight recovery between the two groups. In male patients, 237 subjects were categorized into the normouricemia group, and 57 patients were included in the hyperuricemia group. The rate of complete recovery and slight recovery was lower in the hyperuricemia group compared to the normouricemia group. All patients were further divided into good recovery and poor recovery groups based on hearing outcomes. The uric acid levels, initial hearing threshold, rate of hyperuricemia, and TC were lower in the good recovery group than the poor recovery group both in female and male patients. Binary logistic regression results showed that uric acid levels, initial hearing threshold, and hyperuricemia were associated with hearing recovery. CONCLUSION Hyperuricemia might be an independent risk factor for hearing recovery in SSNHL patients. Serum uric acid and initial hearing threshold possibly affected the hearing outcome in males and females with SSNHL. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level 4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yandan Zhou
- Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Aier Eye Hospital Group, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jie Wen
- University of South China, Hengyang Medical School, The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Changsha, Hunan, China; University of South China, Changsha, Hengyang Medical School, Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhongchun Yang
- University of South China, Hengyang Medical School, The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Changsha, Hunan, China; University of South China, Changsha, Hengyang Medical School, Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ruifang Zeng
- University of South China, Hengyang Medical School, The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Changsha, Hunan, China; University of South China, Changsha, Hengyang Medical School, Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Gong
- University of South China, Hengyang Medical School, The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Changsha, Hunan, China; University of South China, Changsha, Hengyang Medical School, Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qiancheng Jing
- University of South China, Hengyang Medical School, The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital and Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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Dogan S, Huber AM, Roosli C. Treatment of Acute Otitis Media with Inner Ear Involvement in Adults. J Clin Med 2023; 12:7590. [PMID: 38137659 PMCID: PMC10743793 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12247590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Inner ear involvement (IED) is a rare local complication of the very common acute otitis media (AOM). The most beneficial treatment for IED remains a matter of debate. The aim of this study is to analyze different treatment modalities based on hearing outcomes to contribute to the discussion of therapy for IED in AOM. This retrospective study includes 112 adult patients diagnosed with AOM with IED between 2000 and 2020. Patients either received conservative (systemic antibiotic and systemic steroid therapy), interventional (conservative plus myringotomy and tympanic tube) or operative (interventional plus antrotomy) treatment. Pre- and post-treatment pure tone audiometry was performed. The hearing outcome was compared, and hearing recovery was analyzed based on modified Siegel's criteria. The pre-treatment pure tone average (PTA) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the operative group than in the other groups. All treatment modalities led to a significant hearing improvement (p < 0.001). The pre- and post-treatment hearing loss was predominantly observed in high frequencies 2-4 kHz. The operative group showed the highest rate of complete hearing recovery. While all treatment modalities led to a significant improvement in hearing, the operative group showed the most beneficial hearing results in patients with high pre-treatment hearing loss. It remains to be shown if the findings in patients with high pre-treatment hearing loss can be generalized to patients with mild or moderate pre-treatment hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christof Roosli
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (S.D.)
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Hao W, Ye L, Yu H, Li H. Prognosis of vestibular dysfunction in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss with vertigo: a prospective cohort study. J Neurol 2023; 270:5516-5526. [PMID: 37517037 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11894-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Approximately 28%-57% of patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) have an acute vertigo attack and probable vestibular dysfunction; however, the prognosis of vestibular function in these patients remains unclear. METHODS A prospective cohort study of patients with ISSNHL and vertigo was conducted to evaluate the prognosis of vestibular function, especially the roles of peripheral vestibular restoration and central compensation, in patients with ISSNHL and vertigo. Clinical data were recorded at baseline and at 60 days from onset in participants with unilateral ISSNHL with vertigo. Enrolment occurred from May 1, 2019 to May 1, 2022 in the outpatient clinics and inpatient departments of the Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai. The primary outcome measure was the recovery rate of vestibular function 60 days after onset as assessed by vestibular function tests, including caloric tests, cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential tests (cVEMP, oVEMP), video head impulse tests (vHIT), and sensory organization tests (SOT). The secondary outcome measure was the recovery of subjective evaluations in vestibular dysfunction (the dizziness handicap inventory [DHI], and the visual analogue scale for vertigo [VAS-V]) and hearing assessments (pure-tone audiometry [PTA]). RESULTS Overall, 86 patients were recruited, with an average duration of disease of 11.7 days and follow-up time of 60.7 days. Vestibular function was significantly improved (p < 0.05) after 60 days. The recovery rates were 100% for anterior semicircular canal (ASC), 56% for posterior semicircular canal (PSC), 41% for horizontal semicircular canal (HSC), 28% for saccule, and 23% for utricle. The recovery of vestibular function was not significantly related to changes in DHI (p = 0.245), VAS-V score (p = 0.509), or hearing outcome (p = 0.390). CONCLUSIONS Restoration of peripheral vestibular sensory input and central vestibular compensation can occur during the course of ISSNHL with vertigo. The otolith organs are at a higher risk of being affected and have worse recovery than the semicircular canals. Incomplete and in-process restoration of vestibular dysfunction may perturb and delay the establishment of central compensation for balance. Neither hearing outcomes nor subjective vestibular symptoms are related to recovery from vestibular dysfunction. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT03951584).
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiming Hao
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Ye
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Huiqian Yu
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine (Fudan University), Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China.
| | - Huawei Li
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine (Fudan University), Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China.
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- The Institutes of Brain Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
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Lan WL, Chen CH, Chu YC, Cheng YF, Huang CY. Is There an Association between Concurrent Epstein-Barr Virus Infection and Sudden Hearing Loss?-A Case-Control Study in an East Asian Population. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12051946. [PMID: 36902736 PMCID: PMC10004397 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12051946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral infection serves as the crucial etiology for the development of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). We aimed to investigate whether there is an association between concurrent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and SSNHL in an East Asian population. Patients who were older than 18 years of age and met the criteria of sudden hearing loss without an identifiable etiology were enrolled from July 2021 until June 2022, followed by the serological testing of IgA antibody responses against EBV-specific early antigen (EA) and viral capsid antigen (VCA) with an indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of EBV DNA in serum before the treatment was initiated. After the treatment for SSNHL, post-treatment audiometry was performed to record the treatment response and degree of recovery. Among the 29 patients included during enrollment, 3 (10.3%) had a positive qPCR result for EBV. In addition, a trend of poor recovery of hearing thresholds was noted for those patients with a higher viral PCR titer. This is the first study to use real-time PCR to detect possible concurrent EBV infection in SSNHL. Our study demonstrated that approximately one-tenth of the enrolled SSNHL patients had evidence of concurrent EBV infection, as reflected by the positive qPCR test results, and a negative trend between hearing gain and the viral DNA PCR level was found within the affected cohort after steroid therapy. These findings indicate a possible role for EBV infection in East Asian patients with SSNHL. Further larger-scale research is needed to better understand the potential role and underlying mechanism of viral infection in the etiology of SSNHL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Lun Lan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hao Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Chia Chu
- Information Management Office, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Medical AI Development Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Department of Information Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Fu Cheng
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Chii-Yuan Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Information Management Office, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
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Kandakure VT, Kunjumon R, Dube Y, More MS, Garje S. A Prospective Study on Post Covid Sudden Onset Sensory Neural Hearing Loss and Its Recovery. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2023; 75:451-457. [PMID: 36817015 PMCID: PMC9926405 DOI: 10.1007/s12070-023-03529-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a known complication of a number of viral infections, but there is little literature to date on its association to Corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19).This study aimed to investigate the incidence and recovery from SSNHL in post COVID-19 patients. A study was conducted in 6 months of duration at our tertiary care COVID dedicated hospital. Total 280 patients with age group of 12-70 years, laboratory confirmed COVID 19 positive patients having mild to moderate COVID symptoms were included. Patients were examined clinically along with all safety measures to analyze incidence and their recoveries from SSNHL by clinical examination and using Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA). Out of 280 patients the incidence of only SSNHL is 1.07% (3 patients) and SSNHL with tinnitus is 2.14%(6 patients).Total recovery(TR) regained in 2 patients of SSNHL, Partial recovery(PR) in 4 patients, Slight improvement(SI) in 1 patient and no recovery(NR) in 2 patients. The incidence of SSNHL in time of COVID 19 pandemic appears to be higher (3.2%) than before the pandemic (0.005%-0.16%). Incidence among younger age group and patients with no comorbidities has been also increased. In diagnosed case of SSNHL, early treatment with short term course of oral steroids and neuromodulator drugs are the mainstay treatment. Awareness of such non-specific presentation of COVID 19 patients is crucial and shared decision making with the patient and providing health care personnel is necessary for decreasing the hearing loss associated morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinod T. Kandakure
- Department of ENT, Dr Shankarraochavan Government Medical College, Nanded, India
| | - Riya Kunjumon
- grid.464857.c0000 0004 0400 202XDepartment of ENT, Vilasrao Deshmukh Government Medical College, Latur, Maharashtra India
| | - Yashaswi Dube
- grid.464857.c0000 0004 0400 202XDepartment of ENT, Vilasrao Deshmukh Government Medical College, Latur, Maharashtra India
| | - Madhuri S. More
- grid.464857.c0000 0004 0400 202XDepartment of ENT, Vilasrao Deshmukh Government Medical College, Latur, Maharashtra India
| | - Shilpa Garje
- grid.464857.c0000 0004 0400 202XDepartment of ENT, Vilasrao Deshmukh Government Medical College, Latur, Maharashtra India
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Cheng YF, Xirasagar S, Chen CS, Niu DM, Lin HC. Association of Fabry Disease with Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, and Sudden Hearing Loss: A Nationwide Population-Based Study. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11247396. [PMID: 36556012 PMCID: PMC9783105 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11247396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hearing loss and the related otologic manifestations are receiving increased scrutiny as significant causes of morbidity in Fabry disease. However, the relative risks of auditory deficits among patients with Fabry disease relative to the general population without a diagnosis of Fabry disease have not been studied. This study aims to explore the associations between Fabry disease and hearing-related manifestations using a nationwide population-based dataset. We identified study patients for this cross-sectional study from the 2015−2017 claims databases of the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005. We first identified 2312 patients aged over 20 years with a diagnosis of Fabry disease. We used propensity score matching to select five comparison patients per patient with Fabry disease and 11,560 comparison patients without Fabry disease. We used multivariable logistic regressions to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for tinnitus, hearing loss, and sudden deafness among Fabry disease patients vs. comparison patients. Chi-square tests showed statistically significant differences between patients with and without Fabry disease in the prevalence rates of tinnitus (16.7% vs. 11.7%, p < 0.001), hearing loss (7.5% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.014) and sudden deafness (1.7% vs. 1.0%, p = 0.005). Multiple logistic regression revealed that patients with Fabry disease were more likely to suffer from tinnitus, hearing loss and sudden deafness, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.513 (95% CI = 1.336−1.713), 1.246 (95% CI = 1.047−1.483), and 1.681 (95% CI = 1.166−2.423), respectively. We found that Fabry disease is significantly associated with certain auditory manifestations, including hearing loss, sudden deafness, and tinnitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Fu Cheng
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Research Center of Sleep Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Sudha Xirasagar
- Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Chin-Shyan Chen
- Research Center of Sleep Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Department of Economics, National Taipei University, 151 University Rd. San Xia, New Taipei City 237, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-2-8674-1111 (ext. 67178); Fax: +886-2-2673-9880
| | - Dau-Ming Niu
- Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Herng-Ching Lin
- Sleep Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- School of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
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Rozbicki P, Usowski J, Siewiera J, Jurkiewicz D. The Influence of Steroid Therapy on the Treatment Results in Patients with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11206085. [PMID: 36294406 PMCID: PMC9605235 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11206085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral, intravenous, or intratympanic steroid therapy (ST) are commonly applied methods of pharmacotherapy in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL). There are vast discrepancies on the recommended initial dose and the duration of ST in medical reports. The aim of the research is a retrospective comparison of patients’ examination results with different therapeutical strategies. The medical records of 218 patients treated for SSNHL at the Military Institute of Medicine were subjected to retrospective analysis by comparison of the results of pure tone audiometry prior to and after treatment with steroid therapy (first-dose delay, mass of first dose, duration of treatment). Postponement of implementation of ST to 5 days resulted in a significant improvement of hearing across all frequencies. The implementation of ST sequentially in periods (5th−10th day; >10th day) resulted in a statistically insignificant improvement of hearing in the following frequencies: 250 Hz, 1000 Hz, 1500 Hz, 2000 Hz, 3000 Hz, 4000 Hz. There was a statistical improvement of hearing within all frequencies analyzed for the initial dose of prednisone above 50 mg. For an initial dose below 50 mg, in 4000 Hz, the improvement of hearing was statistically insignificant. The research demonstrated a significant influence of steroid therapy on treatment results in patients with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Rozbicki
- Department of Otolaryngology and Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Military Institute of Medicine, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-261-816-471
| | - Jacek Usowski
- Department of Otolaryngology and Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Military Institute of Medicine, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jacek Siewiera
- Department of Hyperbaric Medicine, Military Institute of Medicine, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dariusz Jurkiewicz
- Department of Otolaryngology and Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Military Institute of Medicine, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
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Huang CY, Li DS, Tsai MH, Chen CH, Cheng YF. The Impact of Acute Tinnitus on Listening Effort: A Study Based on Clinical Observations of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Patients. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19063661. [PMID: 35329346 PMCID: PMC8955353 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19063661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between listening effort and acute tinnitus over the clinical course of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) before and after treatment. Thirty SSNHL patients with acute tinnitus were enrolled in this prospective study. Each patient was evaluated before treatment and after 1 and 3 months of follow-up. Listening effort was evaluated in the unaffected ears in two conditions (with and without background noise) using a dual-task paradigm, which included a primary (speech recognition) task and a secondary (visual reaction time) task. Tinnitus severity was assessed with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). It was observed that background noise significantly increased listening effort in SSNHL patients with acute tinnitus before and after treatment. THI scores and listening effort in quiet conditions (** p = 0.009) were significantly decreased three months after treatment. In an analysis of the relation between tinnitus severity and listening effort, it was found that the THI total score was significantly correlated with listening effort in quiet (* p = 0.0388) and noisy conditions (* p = 0.044) before treatment. We concluded that SSNHL patients with acute tinnitus exerted greater listening effort in the presence of background noise than in quiet conditions. Furthermore, listening effort was reduced as tinnitus improved in SSNHL patients during the three months after treatment. Both before and after 3 months of treatment, patients who were more affected and emotionally distressed by tinnitus tended to exert more listening effort in both quiet and noisy environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chii-Yuan Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (C.-Y.H.); (D.-S.L.); (C.-H.C.)
- Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Dian-Sian Li
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (C.-Y.H.); (D.-S.L.); (C.-H.C.)
- Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Hsien Tsai
- Department of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 112, Taiwan;
| | - Chih-Hao Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (C.-Y.H.); (D.-S.L.); (C.-H.C.)
| | - Yen-Fu Cheng
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (C.-Y.H.); (D.-S.L.); (C.-H.C.)
- Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Department of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 112, Taiwan;
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
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Sudden hearing loss and vestibular disorders during and before COVID-19 pandemic: An audiology tertiary referral centre experience. Am J Otolaryngol 2022; 43:103241. [PMID: 34555789 PMCID: PMC8443314 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2021.103241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE During the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic a reduction in the diagnosis of many otorhinolaryngological and audiological disorders has been widely reported. The main aim of this investigation was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on the incidence of acute hearing and vestibular disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed of all patients evaluated in an audiology tertiary referral centre for acute cochleo-vestibular impairment between March 1st 2020 and February 28th 2021 (Pandemic Year Period, PYP). Results were compared to patients presenting with the same disorders during two previous periods (March 1st 2019 to February 29th 2020 and March 1st 2018 to February 28th 2019; First Precedent Year Period, FPYP and Second Precedent Year Period, SPYP, respectively). RESULTS The annual incidence of total acute audio-vestibular disorders (number of annual diagnoses divided by total number of annual audiological evaluations) was 1.52% during the PYP, 1.31% in FPYP and 1.20% in SPYP. Comparison between the pandemic period and previous periods did not show a significant difference (p > 0.05). The overall incidence of SSNHL and combined acute cochlear-vestibular involvement was significantly higher during the PYP compared to the previous periods (p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS There were no differences in the absolute number of acute audio-vestibular disorders during the pandemic compared to previous periods. Although not significant, the SSNHL during the pandemic appeared worse in terms of pure-tone average with a higher incidence of associated vestibular involvement. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of SARS-CoV-2 on audio-vestibular disorders incidence and pathophysiology.
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Lv L, Gao Z, Liu J, Zhuang Y, Hou J, Zhu W, Liu Z, Bai Z, She W. Comparison between postauricular steroid injection and intratympanic steroid perfusion for refractory severe and profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Am J Otolaryngol 2022; 43:103189. [PMID: 34492426 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2021.103189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To analyze the clinical efficacy of intratympanic steroid perfusion (ISP) and postauricular steroid injection (PSI) for refractory severe and profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). METHODS SSNHL patients who failed a conventional treatment with severe to profound hearing loss [pure tone average (PTA, 0.25-8 kHz) > 60 dB] were treated with ISP or PSI plus antioxidant and neurotrophin for 10 consecutive days. Antioxidant and neurotrophin were administrated either intravenously and/or orally. All patients were assigned into the ISP group or the PSI group and followed up for more than three months. The changes in PTA, effective rate and side effects were analyzed in the two groups. RESULTS Similar hearing improvements and effective rates were observed in the two groups. However, a slightly better efficacy was observed in the PSI group compared to the ISP group. Patients with shorter intervals from onset to treatment had significantly more hearing improvements. The route of antioxidant and neurotrophin administration had no impact on treatment effects. CONCLUSION Both ISP and PSI could be used as salvage treatments for refractory SSNHL. These salvage treatments should be started as soon as possible once SSNHL patients fail a conventional treatment.
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Diagnostic Validity of Self-Reported Hearing Loss in Elderly Taiwanese Individuals: Diagnostic Performance of a Hearing Self-Assessment Questionnaire on Audiometry. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182413215. [PMID: 34948824 PMCID: PMC8707226 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182413215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Key Points: Question: Can the traditional Chinese version of the hearing handicap inventory for elderly screening (HHIE-S) checklist screen for age-related hearing loss (ARHL) in elderly individuals? Findings: In this cross-sectional study of 1696 Taiwanese patients who underwent annual government-funded geriatric health checkups, the Chinese version of the HHIE-S had a sensitivity of 76.9% and a specificity of 79.8% with a cutoff score greater than 6 for identifying patients with disabled hearing loss (defined as a PTA > 40 dB). Meaning: The traditional Chinese version of the HHIE-S is an effective test to detect ARHL and can improve the feasibility of large-scale hearing screening among elderly individuals. Purpose: The traditional Chinese version of the hearing handicap inventory for elderly screening (TC-HHIE-S) was translated from English and is intended for use with people whose native language is traditional Chinese, but its effectiveness and diagnostic performance are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the traditional Chinese version of the HHIE-S for screening for age-related hearing loss (ARHL). Methods: A total of 1696 elderly people underwent the government’s annual geriatric medical examination at community hospitals. In this cross-sectional study, we recorded average conducted pure-tone averages (PTA) (0.5 kHz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 4 kHz), age, sex, and HHIE-S data. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to identify the best critical point for detecting hearing impairment, and the validity of the structure was verified by the agreement between the TC-HHIE-S and PTA results. Results: The HHIE-S scores were correlated with the better-ear pure-tone threshold averages (PTAs) at 0.5–4 kHz (correlation coefficient r = 0.45). The internal consistency of the total HHIE-S score was excellent (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.901), and the test-retest reliability was also excellent (Spearman’s correlation coefficient = 0.60, intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.75). In detecting disabled hearing loss (i.e., PTA at 0.5–4 kHz > 40 dB), the HHIE-S cutoff score of > 6 had a sensitivity of 76.9% and a specificity of 79.8%. Conclusions: The traditional Chinese version of the HHIE-S is a valid, reliable, and efficient tool for large-scale screening for ARHL.
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Assessment of prestin level changes as an inner-ear biomarker in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology 2021; 136:1039-1043. [DOI: 10.1017/s0022215121003108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Objective
To assess the correlation of serum prestin level and audiological findings in adults with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
Methods
Audiometry and serum prestin measurements were performed at study entry (T0), at day 14 (end of treatment, T1) and at day 30 (T2).
Results
A total of 25 idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients and 25 healthy adults were included. The geometric mean prestin level in the case and control groups at T0 was 227.7 pg/ml and 130.5 pg/ml, respectively. The geometric mean prestin level in the case group demonstrated a downward trend at T1 and T2 (214.0 pg/ml and 180.1 pg/ml, respectively; p < 0.001). Of 17 patients with high baseline prestin levels (over 150 pg/ml), prestin levels tended to decrease in 11 patients, and 5 of them (45.5 per cent) showed good recovery.
Conclusion
The prestin concentrations increased in two-thirds of patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Future work is recommended to determine the location of injury.
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Ricciardiello F, Pisani D, Viola P, Cristiano E, Scarpa A, Giannone A, Longo G, Russo G, Bocchetti M, Coppola C, Perrella M, Oliva F, Chiarella G. Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Mild COVID-19: Case Series and Analysis of the Literature. Audiol Res 2021; 11:313-326. [PMID: 34287226 PMCID: PMC8293051 DOI: 10.3390/audiolres11030029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: There is growing evidence of otoneurological involvement of SARS-CoV-2, such as tinnitus and balance disorders and smell and taste disorders, but HL in COVID-19 patients has still been marginally studied. Investigating the role of SARS-CoV-2 as an aetiological factor of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) may offer the opportunity to address treatment strategies to maximize clinical recovery and avoid side effects. Methods and results: For this purpose, we will present case studies of five patients who experienced SSNHL during COVID-19. Patients were selected from COVID-19 positive adult subjects with mild clinical presentation, admitted to the outpatient Ear Nose and Throat Department of Cardarelli Hospital due to the onset of SSNHL during the infection. All underwent a complete audio-vestibular investigation before and after SSNHL treatment protocol. Each patient is described with a detailed analysis. Conclusions: SSNHL could be an occasional symptom of COVID-19, even in mild manifestations of the disease. Our experience leads us to underline the value of promptly recognizing and addressing this and other uncommon symptoms, giving patients the opportunity to receive early treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Ricciardiello
- ENT Department, AORN Cardarelli, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (F.R.); (E.C.); (A.G.); (F.O.)
| | - Davide Pisani
- Unit of Audiology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (P.V.); (G.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-096-1364-7124
| | - Pasquale Viola
- Unit of Audiology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (P.V.); (G.C.)
| | - Elisabetta Cristiano
- ENT Department, AORN Cardarelli, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (F.R.); (E.C.); (A.G.); (F.O.)
| | - Alfonso Scarpa
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy;
| | - Antonio Giannone
- ENT Department, AORN Cardarelli, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (F.R.); (E.C.); (A.G.); (F.O.)
| | | | - Giuseppe Russo
- Health Management AORN Cardarelli, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (G.R.); (C.C.)
| | - Marco Bocchetti
- Biogem Scarl, Molecular Oncology and Precision Medicine Laboratory, 83031 Irpino, Italy;
| | - Ciro Coppola
- Health Management AORN Cardarelli, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (G.R.); (C.C.)
| | - Marco Perrella
- Anesthesiology and Reanimation Department AORN Cardarelli, 80100 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Flavia Oliva
- ENT Department, AORN Cardarelli, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (F.R.); (E.C.); (A.G.); (F.O.)
| | - Giuseppe Chiarella
- Unit of Audiology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (P.V.); (G.C.)
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Liao WH, Cheng YF, Chen YC, Lai YH, Lai F, Chu YC. Physician decision support system for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients. J Chin Med Assoc 2021; 84:101-107. [PMID: 33177402 DOI: 10.1097/jcma.0000000000000450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is an emergency disease, and its pathogenesis is still largely unknown, making it difficult to diagnose and develop a therapeutic strategy. To predict the treatment outcomes and further customize the treatment strategy, we used a physician decision support system that incorporates complex information from electronic health records. We first developed the infrastructure of the physician decision support system, including an integrated data warehouse and an automatic data de-identification workflow. METHODS We next conducted a cohort study to evaluate the treatment outcomes of 757 ISSNHL patients using the modified Siegel's criteria. The complete recovery (<25 dB) as a hearing outcome for ISSNHL patients was compared based on pretreatment hearing grades and disease onset with adjusted for age and sex after treatment initiation. RESULTS The results showed that a complete recovery hearing outcome based on pretreatment hearing grades and disease onset in consideration of age and sex was associated with a low risk of pretreatment hearing Grade 2 (26-45 dB) (adjusted odds ratio 12.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.8-31.3) and disease onset ≤7 days (adjusted odds ratio 13.9, 95% CI: 4.2-45.8), respectively. Hearing recovery outcomes among complete recovery and noncomplete recovery (>25 dB) subjects according to pretreatment hearing grades were 32.9% (Grade 2 or 26-45 dB HL), 25.4% (Grade 3 or 46-75 dB HL), 31.1% (Grade 4 or 76-90 dB), and 4.5% (Grade 5, or >90 dB HL) (p < 0.0001). Patients with pretreatment hearing Grade 2 who received treatment within ≤7 days of disease onset had the highest rate of complete recovery (32.9%, 23/70). CONCLUSION In summary, using the physician decision support system, we successfully identified two predictors, the pretreatment hearing Grade 2 (26-45 dB) and treatment within ≤7 days of disease onset, associated with the highest odds of achieving complete recovery (<25 dB) of hearing in patients with ISSNHL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Huei Liao
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yen-Fu Cheng
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. ROC
| | - Yen-Chi Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ying-Hui Lai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Feipei Lai
- Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics & Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Computer Science & Information Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yuan-Chia Chu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics & Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Information Management Office, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Big Data Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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Lin HYH, Chu YC, Lai YH, Cheng HL, Lai F, Cheng YF, Liao WH. A Smartphone-Based Approach to Screening for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Cross-Sectional Validity Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020; 8:e23047. [PMID: 33174845 PMCID: PMC7688380 DOI: 10.2196/23047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an otologic emergency that warrants urgent management. Pure-tone audiometry remains the gold standard for definitively diagnosing SSNHL. However, in clinical settings such as primary care practices and urgent care facilities, conventional pure-tone audiometry is often unavailable. Objective This study aimed to determine the correlation between hearing outcomes measured by conventional pure-tone audiometry and those measured by the proposed smartphone-based Ear Scale app and determine the diagnostic validity of the hearing scale differences between the two ears as obtained by the Ear Scale app for SSNHL. Methods This cross-sectional study included a cohort of 88 participants with possible SSNHL who were referred to an otolaryngology clinic or emergency department at a tertiary medical center in Taipei, Taiwan, between January 2018 and June 2019. All participants underwent hearing assessments with conventional pure-tone audiometry and the proposed smartphone-based Ear Scale app consecutively. The gold standard for diagnosing SSNHL was defined as the pure-tone average (PTA) difference between the two ears being ≥30 dB HL. The hearing results measured by the Ear Scale app were presented as 20 stratified hearing scales. The hearing scale difference between the two ears was estimated to detect SSNHL. Results The study sample comprised 88 adults with a mean age of 46 years, and 50% (44/88) were females. PTA measured by conventional pure-tone audiometry was strongly correlated with the hearing scale assessed by the Ear Scale app, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of .88 (95% CI .82-.92). The sensitivity of the 5–hearing scale difference (25 dB HL difference) between the impaired ear and the contralateral ear in diagnosing SSNHL was 95.5% (95% CI 87.5%-99.1%), with a specificity of 66.7% (95% CI 43.0%-85.4%). Conclusions Our findings suggest that the proposed smartphone-based Ear Scale app can be useful in the evaluation of SSNHL in clinical settings where conventional pure-tone audiometry is not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng-Yu Haley Lin
- Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Chia Chu
- Information Management Office, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Big Data Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics & Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Hui Lai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Lien Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Feipei Lai
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics & Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Computer Science & Information Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Fu Cheng
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Huei Liao
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
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The Potential Added Value of Novel Hearing Therapeutics: An Early Health Economic Model for Hearing Loss. Otol Neurotol 2020; 41:1033-1041. [PMID: 33169949 DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000002744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To construct an early health economic model to assess the potential added value of novel hearing therapeutics, compared with the current standard of care. We use idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) as a case example, because it is a lead indication for several emerging hearing therapeutics. METHODS A decision analytic model was developed to assess the costs and effects of using novel hearing therapeutics for patients with ISSNHL. This was compared to the current standard of care. Input data were derived from literature searches and expert opinion. The study adopted a healthcare perspective of the UK National Health Service. Four analyses were conducted: 1) headroom, 2) scenario, 3) threshold, 4) sensitivity. RESULTS The decision analytic model showed that novel therapeutics for ISSNHL have potential value both in terms of improved patient outcomes, as well as incremental net monetary benefit (iNMB). The base case analysis revealed an iNMB of £39,032 for novel therapeutics compared with the current standard of care. Results of the threshold and scenario analysis revealed that age of treatment and severity of ISSNHL are major determinants of iNMB for novel therapeutics. CONCLUSION This article describes the first health economic model for novel therapeutics for hearing loss; and shows that novel hearing therapeutics can be cost-effective under NICE's cost-effectiveness threshold, with considerable room for improvement in the current standard of care. Our model can be used to inform the development of cost-effective hearing therapeutics; and help decision makers decide which therapeutics represent value for money.
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Liu Y, Chen Q, Xu Y. Research progress in refractory sudden hearing loss: steroid therapy. J Int Med Res 2020; 48:300060519889426. [PMID: 31939327 PMCID: PMC7254608 DOI: 10.1177/0300060519889426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a common condition with a rapid onset, and its worldwide frequency is increasing each year. Importantly, a significant number of patients with SSNHL do not respond to initial treatment, which is termed refractory sudden hearing loss (RSHL), and further treatment is not standardized in terms of type, duration, administration route, and concentration of topical steroid therapy. Dexamethasone and methylprednisolone are effective in treating RSHL, and salvage treatment typically consists of 2 weeks of steroid therapy followed by 3–6 months of follow-up. Near-continual steroid perfusion appears to be more effective than intermittent steroid injection. Furthermore, several novel therapeutic regimens have shown promising results in small-scale studies. However, the optimum treatment needs to be confirmed in larger randomized controlled trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang University School of Medicine First Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Qiongqiong Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang University School of Medicine First Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yaping Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang University School of Medicine First Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
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