Increased Risk of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Patients With Osteoporosis: A Population-based, Propensity Score-matched, Longitudinal Follow-Up Study

Abstract

Context: Previous studies have reported an increased prevalence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in osteoporotic patients. However, the risk of SSNHL in this population remains unclear.

Objective: This study investigated the risk of SSNHL in osteoporotic patients.

Setting: Taiwan launched a single-payer National Health Insurance (NHI) program on March 1, 1995. NHI covers nearly all of Taiwan's residents.

Design: Using randomized representative sample of one million individuals from Taiwan's National Health Insurance claims database, we compared the data of 10,660 patients with newly diagnosed osteoporosis from 1998-2008 and with 31,980 patients without osteoporosis. All patients were tracked until SSNHL was diagnosed, death, or the end of 2011. Osteoporosis was identified based on a primary diagnosis of osteoporosis (ICD-9-CM code 7330) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Intervention: Identified the diagnosis of osteoporosis and SSNHL by ICD-9CM code.

Main outcome measure: The identification of patients with newly diagnosed SSNHL by ICD-9CM code.

Results: The incidence rates of SSNHL in the osteoporosis cohort and comparison group were 10.43 and 5.93 per 10,000 person years. Patients with osteoporosis were at 1.76 times the risk of developing SSNHL than patients without osteoporosis. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) for SSNHL was significantly greater in older (50-64 y and ≥ 65 y), and female patients, and borderline greater in hypertensive patients with osteoporosis than the controls, IRRs being 1.50, 2.33, 1.87, and 1.59.

Conclusions: Patients with osteoporosis are at significantly greater risk of developing SSNHL.