Metabolic syndrome components and sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a case-control study

Purpose Cardiovascular risk factors, including metabolic syndrome (MetS) components, were reported as possible risk factors of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between MetS (and its components) and SSNHL. Methods Eighty-one SSNHL patients and 243 sex-, aged-matched controls participated from January 2018 to July 2019. The participants included 176 (54.3%) men and 148 (45.7%) women. The correlation between Mets components, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and the onset of SSNHL was analyzed using used multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis. Results A total 12 patients (14.8%) with SSNHL and 27 subjects (11.1%) in control group had MetS (p > 0.05). The rate of low levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), hypertriglyceridemia, and hypertension was significantly higher in the SSNHL group than those in the control group (p < 0.05). A trend of odds SSNHL was observed with increasing the number of MetS components (p < 0.001). The multivariable analysis revealed that the rate of hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-C concentration was significantly higher in the SSNHL groups compared to the controls. Conclusions Hypertriglyceridemia and low levels of HDL-C may be important factors in the pathogenesis of SSNHL, and should be assessed during the investigation of patients with this condition.